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A  JOURNAL  OF 
THE  GREAT  WAR 

IN  TWO  VOLUMES 


VOLUME  II 


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A  JOURNAL  OF 

THE  GREAT  WAR 


BY 
CHARLES  G.  DAWES 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  ENGINEERS 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS 


VOLUME  II 


BOSTON  AND  NEW  YORK 

HOUGHTON  MIFFLIN  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,  1921,  BY  CHARLES  G.  DAWES 
ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 


,       ^'        \ 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply 
AT  La  Grange  du  Roy,  near  Coubert,  1918 

Photogravure  Frontispiece 
Major-General  James  G.  Harbord  4 

Chart  showing  Plan  of  Organization  of  the  Gen- 
eral Purchasing  Agent  10 

Brigadier-General  Johnson  Hagood,  Chief  of  Staff, 
Service  of  Supply  16 

Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Price  Jackson,  Chief  of 

Labor  Bureau,  and  Staff  22 

Colonel  Harry  Maud,  B.E.F.  42 

Lieutenant-Colonel  G.  Davidson,  B.E.F.  52 

Colonel  James  A.  Logan,  Assistant  Chief  of  Staff, 
G-i,  General  Headquarters  62 

Brigadier-General  Harry  Wilkins  72 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Nelson  D.  Jay,  Assistant 
General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F.  80 

Civilian  Labor  Reception  Depot,  St.  Denis,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1918  88 

Italian  Troops  at  Work  on  the  Sermoise  End  of 
the  Nevers  Railroad  Cut-off,  November  20,  1918    88 

Indo-Chinese  in  Formation  after  Mess  ready  to 
start  for  their  Work  96 

Lieutenant-Colonel  F.  W.  M.  Cutcheon,  Chief 
Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,  A.E.F.       108 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Francis  E.  Drake,  Chief  of 
Control  Bureau,  Office  of  General  Purchasing 
Agent  120 


vi  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Major-General  H.  L.  Rogers,  Quartermaster- 
General,  A.E.F.  132 

Lieutenant-Colonel  H.  M.  B^-llesby,  A.E.F. ,  Pur- 
chasing Agent  in  England  144 

Harold  F.  McCormick,  Purchasing  Agent  in  Switz- 
erland 156 

Lieutenant  Dalton  H.  Mulloney  168 

Brigadier-General  W.  D.  Connor,  Commanding 
General,  Service  of  Supply  180 

Colonel  J.  P.  McAdam,  General  Staff  192 

General  John  J.  Pershing  with  Colonel  James  L. 

Collins  and  Colonel  Carl  Bo\td  204 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Edward  B.  Gushing  216 

Secont)  Headquarters,  General  Purchasing  Board, 
Hotel  Mediterranee,  Paris  228 

Third  Headquarters,  General  Purchasing  Board, 
Elysee  Palace  Hotel,  Paris  228 

Edwin  B.  Parker,  Chairman  U.S.  Liquidation  Com- 
mission, War  Department  244 

Hon.  H.  H.  Hollis,  Member  U.S.  Liquidation  Com- 
mission 248 

Homer  H.  Johnson,  Member  U.S.  Liquidation  Com- 
mission 252 


A  JOURNAL  OF 
THE  GREAT  WAR 

APPENDIX  B 

REPORT 

OF 

THE  GENERAL  PURCHASING  AGENT 

AND 

CHAIRMAN  OF  GENERAL  PURCHASING  BOARD 
AMERICAN  EXPEDITIONARY  FORCES 

TO 

COMMANDING  GENERAL,  SERVICE  OF  SUPPLY 

AMERICAN  EXPEDITIONARY  FORCES 

February  28,  1919 


A  JOURNAL  OF 

THE  GREAT  WAR 

APPENDIX  B 

February  28,  1919 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  and  Chairman  of  the 

General  Purchasing  Board,  A.E.F. 
To:       Major-General    James    G.    Harbord,    Commanding 

General,  Services  of  Supply,  A.E.F. 
In  compliance  with  your  instructions  I  submit  a  Report  of 
the  Activities  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  and  the  Gen- 
eral Purchasing  Board  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
covering  the  period  from  the  beginning  of  operations  to  the 
present  time.  Preceding  the  Report  and  as  indicating  the 
viewpoint  from  which  it  is  proper  to  consider  the  operations 
reported  in  their  relation  to  the  supply  situation  in  Europe 
and  in  the  United  States  during  the  war,  the  following  ob- 
servations are  pertinent. 

From  the  middle  of  June,  1917,  when  the  work  of  the  A.E.F. 
in  France  was  inaugurated,  until  December  31,  191 8  (the 
armistice  having  been  declared  November  11,  19 18),  is  ap- 
proximately eighteen  months.  The  detailed  tonnage  figures 
attached  hereto,  which  have  been  continuously  and  carefully 
estimated,  show  that  during  that  period  approximately 
10,000,000  ship  tons  (40  cu.  ft.  equals  one  ship  ton)  of  material 
was  acquired  in  Europe  for  the  use  and  maintenance  of  the 
American  army,  being  approximately  555,000  ship  tons  of 
material  per  month.  This  material  was  secured  on  the  Con- 
tinent and  in  England  through  the  operations  of  the  General 
Purchasing  Board  and  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  under 
the  supervision  and  with  the  cooperation  of  our  allies,  France 


4  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

and  Great  Britain.  The  record  of  trans-Atlantic  shipments 
from  the  United  States  to  our  army  show  that  during  these 
eighteen  months  to  December  31,  191 8,  it  was  only  possible  to 
send  to  the  A.E.F.  7,675,410  ship  tons  or  426,000  ship  tons 
per  month,  based  upon  Army  Transport  figures  showing  an 
average  of  56.43  cu.  ft.  per  2000  lbs.  received  from  the  United 
States.  Owing  to  the  lack  of  ships  during  the  first  seven 
months  of  the  existence  of  the  A.E.F.  in  France,  from  June  to 
December,  1917  inclusive,  a  period  when  it  was  charged  with 
the  necessity  of  founding  a  base  and  line  of  communications 
in  such  a  way  as  not  only  to  provide  for  current  arrivals,  but 
the  eventual  care  of  an  army  of  millions,  only  484,550  ship 
tons  were  directly  received  from  trans-Atlantic  shipment.  It 
is  a  commentary  not  only  upon  the  supply  emergency  under 
which  the  A.E.F.  continually  labored,  but  as  well  upon  the 
splendid  effort  to  alleviate  that  condition  made  by  the  War 
Department,  that  during  the  thirty  days  preceding  the  armi- 
stice nearly  twice  as  much  material  was  shipped  to  the  A.E.F. 
from  America  as  it  received  from  there  during  the  entire  first 
seven  months  of  its  existence.  From  June,  191 7,  to  May,  191 8 
inclusive  —  the  first  year  —  the  A.E.F.  received  from  Amer- 
ica 2,156,238  ship  tons  of  supplies.  From  June  i,  1918,  to 
the  declaring  of  the  armistice  —  five  months  and  eleven  days 
—  it  received  from  America  4,059,695  ship  tons.  It  will  be 
noted  that  the  success  of  the  shipping  programme  in  the 
United  States  was  such  that  in  the  last  five  months  preceding 
the  armistice  nearly  twice  as  much  tonnage  was  shipped  from 
America  to  the  A.E.F.  as  had  been  shipped  the  entire  pre- 
ceding year. 

In  military  and  industrial  efforts  in  the  A.E.F.  there  were 
occasional  failures  as  there  were  in  the  United  States.  Mis- 
takes occurred  here  and  there,  as  always  in  a  great  and  com- 
plex enterprise,  but  to  the  observing  officers  of  the  A.E.F. 
experiencing  analogous  difficulties  in  their  own  work  of  war 
preparation,  the  gathering  of  the  American  army,  the  indus- 
trial devotion  to  military  preparation  once  the  war  was  de- 


MAJOR-GENERAL  JAMES  G.  HARBORD 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  5 

clared,  and  the  efforts  of  the  different  departments  of  the 
Government,  all  challenged  the  highest  admiration.  No 
matter  how  great  or  how  successful  were  the  activities  in 
military  preparation  of  the  domestic  industries  and  govern- 
mental departments  of  the  United  States,  so  long  as  ships 
were  lacking  the  A.E.F.  could  not  be  largely  supplied  from 
across  the  ocean.  The  efforts  put  forth  by  the  United  States 
in  the  shipbuilding  programme,  with  results  just  beginning  to 
be  greatly  felt  at  the  close  of  the  war,  coupled  with  the  other 
great  efforts  in  preparation  for  a  long  war,  made  the  United 
States  potentially  the  most  powerful  military  nation  on  earth 
and  so  recognized.  The  greatness  of  scope  in  its  undertakings 
and  the  immensity  of  the  field  requiring  coordination  made 
inevitable  a  certain  delay  before  our  nation  reached  its  real 
military  stride.  History  will  probably  show,  when  our  home 
achievements  in  military  preparation  are  compared  with  those 
made  by  any  other  nation  during  the  first  twenty  months  of 
the  war,  considering  our  condition  of  preliminary  unpre- 
paredness,  that  our  record  has  been  surpassed  by  no  other 
nation,  and  that  the  armistice  date  on  which  the  war  ended 
should  not  justly  be  allowed  to  obscure  the  results  obtained 
because  they  could  not  all  be  in  evidence  at  the  front.  The 
knowledge  of  their  existence,  however,  had  a  tremendous  effect 
at  the  front.  This  preparation  and  potential  power  of  our 
nation  was  at  once  the  rock  upon  which  a  stronger  morale  of 
our  noble  allies  was  based,  and  upon  which  the  morale  of 
Germany  broke.  To  the  A.E.F.  in  France  was  given  an 
environment  in  which  its  efforts  could  be  more  immediately 
felt  along  the  actual  fighting  front.  More  tonnage  was  not 
sent  from  America  for  the  use  of  the  army  because  the  ships 
did  not  exist  with  which  to  transport  it. 

But  war  once  entered  upon,  conscription  having  been  im- 
mediately put  into  effect,  a  national  programme  of  industrial 
and  financial  devotion  to  the  purposes  of  war  adopted,  in- 
cluding absolutely  essential  financial  aid  to  our  allies,  our 
nation  succeeded  in  its  greatest  supply  effort  beside  which  all 


6  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

others  seem  small  and  from  which  directly  resulted  Allied 
victory  —  the  supply  to  France  of  over  two  million  soldiers, 
than  whom  no  finer  or  braver  body  of  troops  ever  existed. 
The  world  has  not  seen  in  its  history  such  a  quick  organiza- 
tion and  transfer,  to  a  field  of  conflict  over  such  a  distance,  of 
a  force  such  as  was  gathered  in  the  United  States  under  the 
supervision  of  the  War  Department  during  the  last  two  years. 

In  the  emergency  situation  constantly  confronting  the 
supply  officers  of  the  A.E.F.  it  was  a  source  of  regret  from 
every  standpoint  that  greater  recourse  to  American  products 
in  supplying  our  army  could  not  be  had,  but  there  were  not 
sufficient  ships  to  make  such  a  course  possible.  Operations 
were  primarily  governed  by  military  exigencies.  Charged 
with  the  conviction,  however,  that  the  first  question  of  im- 
portance at  all  times  in  order  to  gain  victory  was  the  pro- 
visioning, arming,  maintaining,  and  caring  for  American 
troops  in  the  fighting  line,  the  supply  procurement  service  of 
the  A.E.F.,  while  subordinating  ordinary  business  consid- 
erations to  this  question  of  proper  supply,  endeavored  at  the 
same  time  to  apply  as  safeguards  the  checks,  regulations,  and 
restrictions  of  normal  business  organization  where  these  did 
not  involve  a  diminution  in  supplies  of  first  military  emer- 
gency. 

The  record  of  the  A.E.F.  up  to  the  date  of  the  armistice, 
November  ii,  shows  that  it  had  sufficient  supplies  to  enable  it 
to  exist  and  function.  It  was  not  over-supplied.  The  fact 
alone  that  the  American  nation  was  operating  under  a  pro- 
gramme proposed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  ratified 
by  the  Government,  providing  for  the  existence  of  an  army  in 
France  by  June,  1919,  of  four  million  men,  alone  justifies 
every  possible  purchase  of  supplies  and  material  which  were 
secured  in  Europe  for  the  purpose  of  saving  tonnage  from 
America.  The  supply  requirements  of  the  A.E.F.  at  all  times 
preceding  the  armistice,  based  upon  the  four  million  men 
programme,  were  so  enormous  that  the  question  whether 
or  not  these  men  could  have  been  supplied  by  the  utmost 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  7 

exertion,  both  in  Europe  and  in  the  United  States,  was  a 
matter  of  such  doubt  that  in  resolving  it  in  the  affirmative 
last  June,  when  he  determined  that  so  far  as  he  could  accom- 
plish it  the  war  should  be  brought  to  its  climax  in  the  fall, 
the  Commander-in-Chief  made  the  most  vital,  dangerous, 
important,  and  successful  decision  of  his  entire  military- 
career. 

The  strenuous  activity  of  the  supply  procurement  agencies 
of  the  A.E.F.,  from  their  very  inception,  in  seeking  European 
sources  of  supply  proved  of  invaluable  assistance  when  at  the 
crisis  of  the  war  military  exigency  demanded  the  heavier  use 
of  Allied  shipping  to  transport  men  from  America  at  the 
expense  of  supply  shipments.  At  the  time  of  the  armistice,  on 
November  11,  191 8,  Germany  beaten  to  her  knees  threw  up 
her  hands  in  unconditional  surrender.  Up  to  that  very  time, 
in  view  of  the  four  million  men  programme,  the  General 
Purchasing  Agent  and  the  General  Purchasing  Board  were 
bending  every  energy  toward  supply  procurement  in  Europe 
so  as  to  make  possible  its  completion.  In  demanding  this 
programme  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  none  realized  so 
well  as  the  Commander-in-Chief  the  risk  which  he  took  in 
connection  with  ship  shortage  in  the  coming  months,  con- 
sidering the  enormous  increase  in  the  demand  for  supplies 
incident  to  the  accession  in  France  of  several  hundred  thou- 
sand troops  per  month.  With  that  foresight  and  caution  which 
he  always  combines  with  energy  and  courageous  decision,  he 
called  into  conference  with  him  in  June,  1918,  the  heads  of  the 
services,  including  the  General  Purchasing  Agent,  and  ex- 
plained the  overwhelming  necessity  for  the  most  strenuous 
supply  procurement,  construction,  and  transportation  efforts 
in  Europe  if  the  American  programme,  which  he  regarded  as 
absolutely  essential  to  an  early  victory,  was  to  be  successfully 
carried  out. 

From  the  higher  standpoint  of  history,  when  truth  and 
justice  are  not  befogged  by  partisan,  personal,  or  business  con- 
siderations, the  question  which  will  be  considered  is  not,  for 


8  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

instance,  whether  the  lack  of  ships  prevented  the  A.E.F. 
from  properly  patronizing  American  business  institutions  in 
securing  so  much  of  its  necessary  supply  in  Europe,  but 
whether,  notwithstanding  its  great  effort  to  secure  supplies 
from  Europe,  it  had  sufficient  on  hand  and  under  arrangement 
at  the  date  of  the  armistice,  to  have  enabled  the  American 
Government,  if  the  war  had  continued,  to  carry  out  the  four 
million  men  programme  by  June,  19 19,  without  having  troops 
in  the  line  improperly  fed,  clothed,  and  armed.  The  Com- 
mander-in-Chief —  the  Commanding  General,  Services  of 
Supply,  concurring  —  decided  that  with  his  supply  organiza- 
tion functioning  as  it  was  in  the  A.E.F.  and  with  the  great  and 
successful  efforts  being  made  by  the  War  Department  to 
supply  an  increasing  number  of  ships,  there  would  result  the 
accomplishment  of  this  almost  superhuman  task.  Notwith- 
standing the  inevitable  and  natural  criticism  incident  to  the 
close  of  any  war,  every  patriotic  and  right-thinking  American 
may  find  great  pride  in  the  thought  that  the  American  war 
preparation,  of  which  the  A.E.F.  was  but  a  part,  in  spite  of 
mistakes  which  were  inevitable  and  experiments  which  often 
failed  — considered  as  a  whole  and  measured,  not  only  by 
results,  but  by  the  methods  insuring  them  —  will  stand  in 
history  both  from  a  military  and  business  aspect  as  one  of  the 
greatest  organized  efforts  ever  put  forth  by  any  nation. 

The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  therefore,  in  presenting 
the  following  Report  and  with  full  realization  of  its  public  im- 
port, submits  these  observations  with  it,  hoping  to  induce  in 
its  consideration  by  others  that  high  perspective  gained  only 
by  keeping  in  mind  the  great  preponderating  and  continuing 
element  of  military  necessity  and  emergency  involved  in  all 
procurement  matters  of  the  A.E.F.  from  the  smallest  to  the 
largest  transaction.  Whatever  success  has  resulted  from  the 
efforts  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  and  the  General 
Purchasing  Board  has  come  because  they  have  never  lost 
sight  of  the  military  aspect  of  supply  procurement,  while  they 
endeavored  to  apply  as  far  as  consistent  with  this  fact  every 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  9 

available  device  of  normal  business  organization  designed 
to  prevent  competition,  check  extravagance,  and  safeguard 
honesty. 

These  supply  procurement  activities  are  not  properly  to  be 
considered  from  the  primary  standpoint  of  the  obligations  and 
conventional  methods  of  ordinary  commercial  transactions. 
Had  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  retarded  the  supplying  of 
military  needs  in  an  endeavor  to  fully  comply  with  the  checks 
and  safeguards  of  normal  business,  he  and  his  Board  would 
properly  have  been  swept  out  of  existence  within  a  month.  At 
the  same  time  he  feels  that  the  record  of  his  office  and  this 
following  Report  will  show  that  every  effort  was  made  to 
apply  these  safeguards  where  it  could  be  done  without  inter- 
fering with  matters  of  military  exigency. 

In  the  consideration  of  the  question  whether  or  not  the 
A.E.F.  should  buy  articles  in  Europe  or  requisition  them  from 
the  United  States,  the  probable  time  which  would  be  con- 
sumed by  securing  them  from  the  United  States  by  requisi- 
tion was  a  most  important  element.  Probably  many  articles 
could  have  been  more  cheaply  procured  in  the  United  States, 
even  taking  into  consideration  the  high  cost  of  freight  to 
France,  if  it  had  been  possible  to  wait  the  requisite  time  for 
ship  tonnage  to  carry  them.  The  question  of  priorities  and 
relative  necessities  in  the  matter  of  use  of  the  limited  tonnage 
was  such  that  the  advisability  of  purchases  in  the  United 
States  as  distinguished  from  purchases  in  Europe  was  con- 
trolled by  the  continuing  tonnage  emergency. 

General  Purchasing  Board  and  General  Purchasing 
Agent,  A.E.F. 

The  plan  for  the  creation  of  the  office  of  the  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  and  the  General  Purchasing  Board  was  con- 
ceived by  General  Pershing,  Commander-in-Chief,  American 
Expeditionary  Force.  In  general  it  may  be  stated  that  the 
department  of  the  administrative  staff  under  the  General 
Purchasing  Agent  was  the  result  of  a  supply  emergency 


10  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

existing  at  the  time  of  its  creation,  which  has  continued 
throughout  America's  participation  in  the  war.  The  plan 
originated  by  General  Pershing  to  cope  with  the  chaotic  con- 
ditions first  existing  in  the  matter  of  supply  requirements  of 
our  army  in  France,  resulting  from  the  independent  action 
of  the  separate  services,  owed  much  of  its  eventual  efifective- 
ness  to  its  simplicity.  Foreseeing  the  necessity  for  the  con- 
tinued extension  of  central  authority  in  supply  procurement, 
General  Pershing  did  not  attempt  in  the  first  order  consti- 
tuting the  G.P.A.  and  the  G.P.B.  to  fully  define  their  duties. 
As  is  often  the  case  in  the  unusual  environment  created  by 
war,  the  establishment  in  any  army  of  any  new  organization 
which  functions  satisfactorily  results  naturally  in  an  increase 
of  authority  and  jurisdiction  extending  far  beyond  the  origi- 
nal purposes  for  which  it  was  created.  In  this  particular  case, 
the  G.P.A.  was  designed  at  first  to  be  simply  a  coordinator 
of  purchases.  He  did  not  possess,  nor  has  he  exercised,  the 
power  of  direct  purchase,  but  his  power  of  direction  and  veto 
over  the  purchasing  activities  of  the  army,  and  his  contact  with 
the  chiefs  of  the  purchasing  services  and  our  allies,  resulted  in 
the  evolution  in  him  of  large  powers  over  the  general  policy  of 
supply  procurement. 

Coincident  with  the  assumption  of  the  power  of  coordina- 
tion, he  inaugurated  under  the  direction  of  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  in  order  to  save  trans-Atlantic  tonnage,  a  system  to 
supplement  the  supply  procurement  activities  of  the  inde- 
pendent services  in  Europe  and  superimposed  this  organiza- 
tion upon  the  separate  services  in  such  a  way  as  to  expedite 
rather  than  interfere  with  their  functioning. 

The  fact  that  the  G.P.A.  was  the  only  executive  officer  of 
the  Administrative  Staff,  with  headquarters  for  the  most  part 
in  Paris,  resulted  in  his  being  used  by  the  C.-in-C.  and  the 
C.G.,  S.O.S.,  as  their  agent  in  Allied  inter-army  and  inter- 
governmental supply  negotiation.  Again,  from  time  to  time 
the  arising  of  acute  emergencies  in  connection  with  the  afifairs 
of  the  army  led  to  the  placing  upon  him  of  certain  specific 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  ii 

tasks  by  the  C.-in-C.  and  the  C.G.,  S.O.S. ,  because  his 
juxtaposition  to  the  authorities  of  the  French  and  EngHsh 
Governments  facilitated  inter-AlHed  negotiations  by  him  in 
Paris  as  compared  with  the  inconvenience  of  negotiation  at 
Chaumont  and  Tours.  So  pecuHarly  has  the  work  of  the  ofifice 
of  the  G.P.A.  and  the  G.P.B.  been  the  result  of  emergencies 
created  by  the  new  conditions  of  inter-Allied  military  en- 
deavor, that  since  the  signing  of  the  armistice  its  demobiliza- 
tion has  been  proceeding  rapidly.  Its  whole  system  was,  in 
effect,  a  device  superimposed  upon  the  regular  army  organi- 
zation. 

Attached  to  this  Report  of  the  G.P.A.  are  the  separate 
reports  made  to  him  by  the  chief  purchasing  officers  of  the 
services  and  the  chiefs  of  the  bureaus  of  his  office,  comprising 
his  organization.  Instructions  were  given  by  the  G.P.A.  to  the 
chiefs  of  the  purchasing  services  and  the  chiefs  of  the  bureaus 
in  his  office  to  confine  their  reports  to  the  smallest  limit  con- 
sistent with  giving  an  idea  of  the  general  scope  and  accom- 
plishments of  their  respective  work.  Since  the  prime  re- 
sponsibility for  the  consummation  of  purchase  transactions  is 
with  the  independent  services,  subject,  only  tor  coordination 
purposes,  to  the  control  of  the  G.P.A.,  the  record  of  aggregate 
financial  transactions  and  the  details  of  purchases  properly 
rest  in  the  files  of  the  respective  services  of  the  army.  The 
compilation  of  these  will  probably  be  contained  in  the  report 
of  the  Chief  Finance  Officer  of  the  A.E.F.  Such  references  to 
costs  as  are  made  in  the  reports  filed  herewith  are  only  desig- 
nated to  throw  light  upon  the  general  procurement  efTort  of 
the  A.E.F.  The  reports  attached  hereto  of  the  officers  assigned 
to  the  G.P.A.  are  manifestly  a  better  source  of  information 
for  the  details  of  the  operation  of  his  office  than  a  recapitula- 
tion of  them  by  the  G.P.A.,  who  will  therefore  largely  confine 
himself  to  general  statements.  Since  the  business  of  the  G.P.A. 
under  the  emergencies  of  war  was  in  a  constant  state  of  evo- 
lution and  readjustment,  certain  organizations  were  formed 
and  operated  for  a  time  by  the  G.P.A.  which  were  afterwards 


12  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

transferred  to  other  jurisdictions.  In  such  cases  a  report  from 
the  organizations  are  included  among  the  attached  reports 
and  indicate  the  time  of  their  transfer  to  other  authority. 
This  is  the  case  with  the  report  of  the  labor  organization 
which  was  formed  by  the  G.P.A.  under  G.O.  5,  S.  of  R., 
March  4,  1918,  and  carried  on  by  him  until  September  i,  1918, 
when  it  was  transferred  to  the  Army  Service  Corps.  Likewise 
upon  the  organization  of  the  Finance  Section  of  the  A.E.F., 
the  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,  established  by  the 
G.P.A. ,  February  14,  1918,  was  transferred  to  the  Chief 
Finance  Officer  in  December,  1918;  as  was  also  the  Bureau  of 
Accounts  and  the  Financial  Requisition  Officer  created  under 
the  G.P.A.,  July  12,  1918. 

It  is  the  desire  of  the  G.P.A,  in  this  General  Report  to 
make  clearly  evident  the  fact  of  the  importance,  in  the  success 
of  supply  procurement  in  Europe,  of  the  continued  existence 
of  the  right  of  independent  purchase  by  the  different  services 
subject  to  coordination  by  his  central  authority.  Without  the 
authoritative  pressure  direct,  and  without  delegation,  from 
those  at  the  point  of  necessity  upon  those  responsible  for  the 
satisfaction  of  the  need,  which  was  secured  by  a  coordinated 
system  of  purchase  by  the  different  services,  the  supply  re- 
sults of  the  A.E.F.  could  not  have  been  accomplished.  While 
in  the  results  showing  tonnage  purchased  by  the  independent 
services  as  represented  on  the  G.P.B.  there  are  included  such 
supplies  as  were  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  separate  serv- 
ices by  the  superimposed  organization  of  the  G.P.A.  in  neu- 
tral and  Allied  European  countries,  yet  the  bulk  of  these  sup- 
plies would  have  been  secured  without  the  assistance  of  the 
organization  of  the  G.P.A.,  although  at  higher  prices  and 
under  greater  difficulties.    In  other  words,  in  the  judgment  of 
the  G.P.A.  the  important  element  in  the  success  of  the  Ameri- 
can army  in  France  in  supplying  itself  was  the  pressure  put  by 
the  independent  chiefs  of  the  services  upon  their  own  supply 
agents  in  their  efforts  to  carry  out  the  military  procurement 
programme  imposed  upon  the  chiefs  by  the  C.-in-C.  and  sup- 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  13 

plemented  by  the  pressure  of  the  G.P.A.  and  the  C.G.,  S.O.S. 
The  designation  in  orders  of  the  Chairman  of  the  G.P.B.  as 
the  G.P.A.  of  the  A.E.F.  makes  it  all  the  more  important  for 
him  in  this  Report,  as  a  matter  of  plain  justice,  to  again 
emphasize  the  fact  that  all  purchases  were  consummated  by 
the  independent  services  and  not  by  himself  as  an  individual 
officer.  The  results  obtained  were  through  the  members  of 
the  G.P.B.  representing  the  independent  services,  supplemen- 
ted, expedited,  and  coordinated  by  the  superimposed  organi- 
zation of  the  G.P.A.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  when  General 
Pershing,  acting  in  an  environment  of  acute  emergency,  con- 
ceived and  created  the  G.P.B.  and  the  office  of  the  G.P.A.,  he 
established  an  interdependency  and  mutuality  of  interest  in 
an  effort  for  a  common  result  which  made  close  cooperation 
and  complete  understanding  on  the  part  of  both  necessary 
to  success  on  the  part  of  either. 

The  G.P.A.,  therefore,  names  here  some  of  the  different 
chiefs  of  the  independent  purchasing  services  reporting  to  him 
as  members  of  the  G.P.B.  at  different  times  as  the  ones  in  his 
judgment  largely  responsible  for  the  trans-Atlantic  tonnage 
saved  through  purchases  in  Europe. 

General  Purchasing  Board 

Quartermaster  Corps 

1st  Member  —  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Colonel,  Brigadier-General  Harry 

E.  Wilkins. 
2d  '*     —  Colonel,  Brigadier-General  C.  R.  Krauthoff. 

3d  "     —  Colonel  W.  R.  Grove. 

4th  "     —  Colonel  M.  J.  Henry. 

Chief  Disbursing  Officer,  A  .E.  F. 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Colonel  Chades  E.  Stanton. 

Medical  Corps 
1st  Member  —  Major,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Daniel  P.  Card. 
2d  "     —  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Colonel  C.  C.  VVhitcomb. 

3d  "     —  Lieutenant-Colonel  Daniel  P.  Card. 


14  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Engineer  Corps 

1st  Member  —  Major,    Lieutenant-Colonel,    Colonel    Thomas    H. 

Jackson. 
2d  "     —  Colonel  J.  A.  VVoodruflF. 

3d  "     —  Colonel  C.  McD.  Townsend. 

4th  "     —  Colonel  F.  C.  Boggs. 

5th  "     —  Colonel  Thomas  H.  Jackson. 

Air  Service 

1st  Member  —  Major  Edgar  S.  Gorell. 
2d  "     —  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  P.  Spaulding. 

3d  "     —  Captain,  Major  Morrill  Dunn. 

4th  "     —  Colonel  H.  Dunwoody. 

Signal  Corps 
1st  Member  —  Captain  James  B.  Taylor. 
2d  "     —  Major,  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  G.  Gutenshon. 

3d  "     —  Lieutenant-Colonel  L.  T.  Gerow. 

Ordnance  Department 
1st  Member —  ist  Lieutenant  Olney  Bonar. 
2d  "     —  Lieutenant-Colonel  E.  D.  Bricker. 

United  States  Navy 
1st  Member  —  Captain  George  C.  Schafer. 

Chemical  Warfare  Service 
1st  Member  —  Captain,  Major  L.  F.  Urbain. 
2d  "     —  Captain,  Major  R.  S.  Ward. 

3d  "    —  Major  L.  F.  Urbain. 

Motor  Transport  Corps 
1st  Member  —  Captain,  Major  Hugh  Tolman. 

The  following  is  a  classification  of  the  authority  and  func- 
tions of  the  G.P.A.  and  the  G.P.B.: 

I.  Coordination  of  Purchases.  The  supply  division  of  the 
A.E.F.  being  composed  of  eight  independent  services,  each 
possessing  its  own  appropriation  from  Congress  and  authority 
to  make  purchases  for  its  own  department,  General  Pershing, 
in  order  to  coordinate  the  procurement  activities  in  Europe 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  15 

of  these  independent  bodies,  in  G.O.  23,  G.H.Q.,  August  20, 
191 7  (attached  hereto  as  an  appendix),  estabHshed  in  Paris  a 
General  Purchasing  Board  composed  of  eight  independent 
officers  of  the  independent  services  and  appointed  as  Chair- 
man of  the  Board  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  to  whom 
these  officers  reported  for  duty.  As  emphasized  before,  the 
G.P.A.  possessed  no  authority  to  make  purchases  under  the 
law,  but  exercised  the  power  of  control  and  veto  of  purchases, 
and  to  this  effect  all  orders,  before  being  placed  by  the  differ- 
ent purchasing  departments  of  the  A.E.F.,  were  required  to 
be  submitted  to  the  G.P.A.  for  approval.  The  G.P.A.  was 
likewise  designated  as  the  representative  of  the  C.-in-C.  in 
liaison  with  the  various  Allied  Governments  and  purchasing 
agencies  in  matters  involving  economic  and  other  questions  of 
supply  and  labor. 

2.  Supplemental  Organization  of  G.P.A.  to  increase  Procure- 
ment of  Supplies  in  Europe.  In  addition  to  the  control  and 
approval  of  purchases,  the  G.P.A.  was  also  charged  with  the 
work  of  locating  supplies  in  Europe  with  a  view  to  saving  ton- 
nage from  the  United  States.  Upon  the  first  day  of  his  ap- 
pointment he  commenced  the  formation  of  this  organization. 
Under  it  he  maintained  representatives  in  France,  Great 
Britain,  Spain,  Portugal,  Italy,  and  Switzerland,  through 
whom  passed  all  purchases  made  by  the  A.E.F.  in  those  coun- 
tries and  to  whom  all  purchasing  officers  of  the  A.E.F.  re- 
ported when  assigned  to  those  countries  for  procurement. 
These  representatives  worked  in  close  cooperation  with  the 
chief  purchasing  officers  of  the  Allied  countries  and  with  our 
diplomatic  agents  and  representatives  of  the  War  Trade 
Board,  and  in  this  manner  were  able  to  secure  supplies  which 
in  many  cases  would  otherwise  have  been  unobtainable.  Their 
duties  were  also  to  furnish  reports  of  available  supplies,  copies 
of  the  fonvard  requirements  of  the  A.E.F.  having  been  fur- 
nished them  as  rapidly  as  possible,  as  a  basis  upon  which  to 
figure  requirements  in  advance  of  the  receipt  of  requisitions. 
Purchases  were  made  by  these  representatives  only  on  orders 


I6  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

from  the  chiefs  of  the  various  services  forwarded  to  them  with 
approval  through  the  office  of  the  G.P.A.  These  representa- 
tives of  the  G.P.A.  were  designated  as  General  Purchasing 
Agents  for  the  respective  countries  in  which  they  Avere  lo- 
cated, with  the  exception  of  France,  and  an  organization 
partly  military  and  partly  civilian  in  each  country  built  up 
under  them.  The  agency  in  Great  Britain  was  established  by 
General  William  Lassiter  a  short  time  prior  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  G.P.A.,  and  this  organization  was  transferred  to 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  G.P.A.  In  the  Allied  countries  the 
representatives  of  the  G.P.A.  dealt  with  the  representatives 
of  the  Governments,  and  orders  were  handled  in  conformity 
with  the  regulations  and  agreements  imposed  by  the  Govern- 
ments, both  as  regarded  requisitions  upon  the  Governments 
and  purchases  in  the  open  market.  In  neutral  countries 
purchases  of  supplies  and  commodities  for  which  export  per- 
mits were  obtainable  were  made  from  individuals  and  firms. 

The  G.P.A.  sent  experts  to  adjoining  countries  to  investi- 
gate the  textile  industry,  the  question  of  raw  materials,  tim- 
ber, lumber,  horses  and  mules,  tinned  food  supply,  shipping 
facilities,  etc.  His  representatives,  in  conference  with  the 
officials  of  the  Ministere  de  lArmement,  through  the  Comite 
Technique  Permanent  d'Etudes  Franco-Americaines,  studied 
the  industrial  situation  in  France  in  relation  to  the  question 
of  importing  raw  materials  for  manufacturing  in  France  with 
the  object  of  saving  tonnage  from  the  United  States  and  uti- 
lizing the  available  local  labor.  These  efforts  met  with  con- 
siderable success  in  connection  with  the  manufacture  from 
tin  plate  and  from  other  raw  material,  cylindrical  and  other 
bulky  articles. 

As  a  result  of  the  efforts  of  the  G.P.A.  and  the  G.P.B. 
under  the  above  two  classifications  of  duties,  and  with  the 
cooperation  of  the  French  and  British  Governments,  there 
were  secured  up  to  the  date  of  the  armistice  for  the  American 
army  in  Europe,  as  before  stated,  approximately  ten  million 
ship  tons  of  material  and  supplies. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JOHNSON  HAGOOD 
Chief  of  Staff,  Service  of  Supply 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  17 

3.  Bureau  of  Foreign  Agencies.  Supervision  and  control  of 
orders  sent  to  foreign  countries  were  effected  not  only  through 
the  purchasing  agents  for  the  different  countries,  but  through 
the  Bureau  of  Foreign  Agencies  in  the  office  of  the  G.P.A., 
which  was  charged  with  the  direction  and  supervision  of 
European  purchasing  agencies  outside  of  France.  This  Bu- 
reau operated  under  the  general  supervision  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  N.  D.  Jay,  Assistant  G.P.A.,  and  under  its  chief. 
Captain  R.  H.  Cabell,  Jr. 

4.  Purchase  by  Category  Department.  In  order  more  effec- 
tively and  intelligently  to  control  purchases,  to  prevent 
competition  between  services,  and  to  secure  the  business 
advantages  incident  to  large  transactions,  the  G.P.A.  ini- 
tiated and  secured  the  promulgation  of  GO.  41,  S.O.S.,  of 
September  2,  1918,  establishing  categories  of  supplies  used  by 
more  than  one  service  and  authorizing  the  G.P.A.  with  the 
approval  of  the  C.G,  S.O.S. ,  to  designate  specific  services  to 
purchase  such  supplies  for  all  other  departments.  Under  this 
arrangement  only  one  department  of  the  A.E.F.  was  author- 
ized to  secure  any  one  class  of  supplies,  except  in  case  of 
extreme  emergency,  when  the  purchase  was  required  to  be 
certified  by  some  responsible  purchasing  officer.  The  insti- 
tution of  this  system  was  the  work  chiefly  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  N.  D.  Jay,  Assistant  G.P.A.  of  the  A.E.F. 

Prior  to  the  establishment  by  order  of  the  machinery  for 
categorical  purchases  and  under  the  pressure  of  a  "great 
emergency  in  connection  with  machine  tools,  since  the  lack  of 
ships  prevented  the  shipment  of  tools  from  the  United  States 
for  almost  one  full  year,  the  G.P.A.,  in  the  early  period  of  the 
existence  of  the  A.E.F.,  established  a  Machine  Tool  Section 
in  his  office  which,  under  the  authority  of  the  Q.M.C.,  lo- 
cated, negotiated,  and  distributed,  among  the  supply  serv- 
ices of  the  A.E.F.  for  the  equipment  of  repair  shops,  all 
machine  tools  obtainable  in  Allied  and  neutral  countries. 
Prior  to  September  i,  when  the  Machine  Tool  Section  was 
transferred  to  the  Ordnance  Department,  more  than  five 


i8  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

thousand  machine  tools  were  procured  and  transferred  by 
that  section  of  his  office.  This  work,  initiated  in  November, 
191 7,  at  the  suggestion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Drake,  saved, 
in  the  judgment  of  the  G.P.A.,  the  mechanical  situation  of 
the  A.E.F.  It  was  these  machine  tools  which  enabled  the 
A.E.F.  to  repair  the  damaged  Belgian  locomotives  secured  by 
the  G.P.A.  as  a  cession  from  the  Belgian  Government,  which 
not  only  resulted  in  a  large  saving  of  tonnage,  but  furnished 
the  A.E.F.  with  absolutely  essential  locomotive  power  im- 
possible at  the  time  to  be  obtained  elsewhere.  The  G.P.A. 
also  endeavored  from  time  to  time  to  secure  the  interchange 
of  surplus  stocks  of  materials  between  the  different  depart- 
ments, and  in  other  ways  to  induce  the  heads  of  the  inde- 
pendent services  to  think  in  terms  of  the  army  as  a  whole 
instead  of  in  terms  of  eight  separate  services.  Even  when 
purchases  by  category  were  effected,  the  division  of  stocks  into 
the  eight  separate  custodianships  of  the  different  services 
resulted  in  a  failure  to  secure  the  most  economical  use  of  exist- 
ing supply. 

When  one  service,  through  foresight  and  in  order  to  carry 
out  its  programme  of  accomplishment,  was  possessed  of  a  sur- 
plus of  supplies  which  could  be  diverted  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  acute  necessities  of  another  service,  the  machinery  of 
transfer  was  extremely  cumbersome  and  the  opposition  to  its 
exercise  on  the  part  of  the  heads  of  the  services  extremely 
embarrassing. 

5.  Statistical  Bureau.  The  rapid  development  of  the  need 
for  procuring  supplies  in  Europe  in  order  to  save  tonnage 
from  the  United  States  necessitated  the  creation  of  a  Bureau 
for  collecting,  classifying,  and  analyzing  the  requirements  of 
the  supply  departments  of  the  A.E.F.  The  Statistical  Bureau 
was  established  on  December  3,  191 7,  and  was  organized 
under  the  authority  of  Major  J.  C,  Roop,  its  first  chief,  who 
was  largely  responsible  for  the  scope  of  its  work  and  satisfac- 
tory functioning.  Upon  his  temporary  transfer  to  my  Staff  as 
the  American  member  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply, 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  19 

he  was  succeeded  as  chief  by  Major  J.  W.  Krueger.  To  this 
Bureau  was  assigned  the  work  of  collecting  and  compiling, 
on  the  basis  of  the  forecasts  issued  by  the  supply  departments, 
information  regarding  material  procurable  in  France  and 
adjoining  European  countries.  The  Bureau  likewise  main- 
tained a  record  of  all  purchase  orders  which  passed  through 
the  office  of  the  G.P.A.  and,  upon  the  establishment  of  the 
Metal  Control  Bureau,  of  the  metals  consumed  in  filling  such 
orders. 

Preparation  of  Supply  Forecasts  of  the  A.E.F.  As  has  been 
before  stated,  the  work  of  organization  of  the  G.P.A. 's  office 
and  the  G.P.B.  was  progressive.  While  early  appreciation  was 
had  of  the  objects  which  it  was  desirable  to  obtain  in  the  way 
of  coordination  with  the  French  and  the  English  Governments 
and  of  the  activities  of  our  own  supply  services,  the  army 
was  handicapped  in  its  early  stages  by  a  great  lack  of  per- 
sonnel accompanied  by  a  constantly  expanding  programme 
of  supply  procurement.  It  was  very  difficult  to  secure  the 
preparation  of  the  quarterly  forecasts  of  the  requirements  of 
the  army  outside  of  the  forecasts  relative  to  food  and  cloth- 
ing. The  estimate  of  future  requirements  for  construction 
purposes  was  especially  difficult,  as  construction  programmes 
were  constantly  being  enlarged  or  altered.  However,  by  con- 
stant cooperation  between  the  services  and  the  G.P.A.  the 
quarterly  forecast  became  progressively  more  fixed.  The 
final  forecast  by  category  of  the  requirements  of  the  A.E.F. 
for  the  last  quarter  of  191 8  is  given  in  the  appendix  of  this 
Report.  It  well  indicates  the  magnitude  of  our  army  trans- 
actions and  necessities. 

In  the  matter  of  securing  forecasts,  the  able  activities  of 
the  Assistant  G.P.A.,  Lieutenant-Colonel  N.  D.  Jay,  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Roop,  and  Major  Krueger,  as  in  so  many  other 
departments  of  work  of  the  office,  were  especially  noteworthy. 

6.  Bureau  of  Purchase  Programme  and  Classification.  After 
the  promulgation  of  G.O.  41,  S.O.S. ,  the  work  in  connection 
with  forecasts  of  requirements  and  purchase  classifications 


20    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

rendered  advisable  withdrawing  this  work  from  the  Statis- 
tical Bureau  and  creating  a  special  bureau  to  handle  it. 

For  carrying  out  the  supervision  of  the  category  system  of 
purchasing,  provided  for  in  paragraph  3  of  G.O.  41,  H.Q., 
S.O.S.,  September  2, 191 8,  the  Bureau  of  Purchase  Programme 
and  Classification  was  established  in  the  office  of  the  G.PA. 
and  was  further  charged  with  the  supervision  of  the  compila- 
tion and  classification  of  consolidated  lists  of  requirements  as 
shown  on  the  quarterly  forecasts  of  the  supply  services  of  the 
A.E.F.  The  duties  of  the  Bureau  comprised  likewise  the  re- 
cording of  data  and  information  obtained  from  the  Allied 
Governments  and  from  purchasing  officers  in  Europe  re- 
garding available  supplies  in  Europe  and  the  standardization 
of  descriptions  of  supplies  requisitioned  by  the  A.E.F.,  for 
the  purpose  of  compiling  a  supply  catalogue  including  the 
names  and  types  of  similar  articles  used  by  the  French  and 
British  armies. 

The  Bureau  of  Purchase  Programme  and  Classification  was 
headed  by  Major  J.  W.  Krueger,  who  carried  on  this  work 
with  the  high  ability  which  characterized  his  other  extensive 
activities  in  the  office  of  the  G.P.A. 

7.  Control  Bureau.  Through  the  Control  Bureau,  office  of 
the  G.PA.,  passed  for  approval  all  purchase  orders  and  requi- 
sitions upon  the  Allied  Governments,  with  the  exception  of 
certain  small  local  purchases  made  by  supply  officers  outside 
of  Paris.  An  examination  of  orders  was  made  by  this  Bureau 
with  the  object  of  preventing  competition  between  depart- 
ments for  the  limited  quantities  of  merchandise  available, 
and  the  consequent  payment  of  unduly  increased  prices. 
Through  this  Bureau  was  maintained  a  liaison  with  the  French 
Mission  established  in  the  Headquarters  of  the  G.P.A. ,  under 
which  the  approval  of  the  French  Government  was  given  to 
all  transactions  save  those  involving  very  small  amounts,  and 
in  this  way  gave  French  governmental  protection  to  the 
A.E.F.  against  the  payment  of  exorbitant  prices.  No  requests 
for  purchases  by  the  A.E.F.  were  authorized  by  the  French 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  21 

Government  at  prices  higher  than  those  actually  paid  by  that 
Government  for  similar  material,  except  in  very  rare  cases  of 
special  emergency.  When  the  prices  asked  seemed  exorbitant 
to  the  French  Government  it  would  itself  requisition  the 
material  at  the  fair  price  and  turn  it  over  in  the  form  of  a 
concession  to  the  A.E.F.  Under  this  arrangement  no  purchase 
exceeding  the  amount  of  five  thousand  francs  could  be  made 
by  the  A.E.F.  without  the  approval  of  the  French  Govern- 
ment. 

8.  Wood  Section  (tinder  Control  Bureau).  The  superv^ision 
and  correlation  of  all  purchases  of  lumber  and  lumber  prod- 
ucts in  Continental  Europe  having  been  delegated  to  the 
G.P.A.  by  G.O.  8,  S.O.S.,  of  April  8,  1918,  this  Bureau  was 
established  for  the  control  of  wood  procurement  both  in  the 
open  market  and  through,  and  with  the  collaboration  of,  the 
French  and  other  Allied  purchasing  and  distributing  agencies. 
A  liaison  service  was  organized  between  the  Wood  Section 
and  the  Inspection  Generale  des  Bois  (Wood  Service)  of  the 
Ministry  of  Armament.  (See  Report  of  Lieutenant  H.  W. 
Crandall  attached.) 

9.  Metal  Control  Bureau  {under  Control  Bureau).  At  the 
request  of  the  Ministry  of  Armament,  based  upon  the  fact 
that  the  purchasing  departments  of  the  A.E.F.  had  been 
steadily  exceeding,  through  their  purchases  in  France,  the 
monthly  allotment  of  metals  assigned  to  the  use  of  the  A.E.F. 
by  the  Metallurgical  Section  of  the  Ministry  of  Armament, 
the  Metal  Control  Bureau  was  organized  on  June  28,  1918. 
The  duties  of  the  Bureau  comprised  the  examination  and 
approval  of  all  purchases  of  metal  goods  and  equipment,  both 
with  regard  to  weight  of  metal  and  prices,  as  well  as  the  prepa- 
ration, for  transmission  to  the  United  States,  of  orders  for 
metal  for  distribution  among  all  departments  to  meet  their 
manufacturing  needs  in  France.  A  liaison  service  was  or- 
ganized between  the  Bureau  and  the  Inspection  des  Forges,  of 
the  French  Ministry  of  Armament. 

10.  Central  Printing  Office  {imder  Control  Bureau).    The 


22  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

difficulty  of  procuring  the  large  quantities  of  printed  matter 
and  stationery  necessary  for  the  various  departments  of  the 
A.E.F.  and  the  rapidly  increasing  prices  of  such  work  oc- 
casioned by  constant  canvassing  of  the  market  by  purchasing 
departments,  brought  about  the  establishment  on  December 
I,  191 7,  under  the  G.PA.  of  a  Central  Printing  Plant.  This 
plant  handled  a  large  percentage  of  the  printed  matter  for  the 
various  Staff  Departments.  It  was  transferred,  by  recommen- 
dation of  the  G.P.A.,  on  October  21,  1918,  to  the  Chief 
Quartermaster. 

II.  Procurement  of  Civilian  Manual  Labor  jor  the  A.E.F. 
The  responsibility  for  the  procurement,  organization,  trans- 
portation, maintenance,  and  discipline  of  civilian  manual 
labor  in  Europe  for  the  A.E.F.  (other  than  labor  procured 
locally  through  the  French  regional  authorities)  having  been 
delegated  by  GO.  5,  H.Q.,  Service  of  the  Rear,  March  4, 
191 8,  to  the  G.P.A.,  the  Labor  Bureau  was  established  and 
the  G.P.A.  was  designated  as  the  sole  agent  through  whom 
negotiations  with  the  French  authorities  in  relation  to  such 
labor  should  be  conducted.  The  Bureau  was  operated  as  a 
subdivision  of  the  G.P.A.  until  it  was  transferred  on  Septem- 
ber I,  1 91 8,  by  GO.  38,  H.Q.,  S.O.S.,  to  the  Army  Service 
Corps. 

The  recruiting  of  civilian  labor  under  G.H.Q.  was  found 
impracticable,  since  G.H.Q.  was  removed  from  first  contact 
with  the  labor  supply,  and  for  the  reason  that  all  labor  con- 
tracts required  careful  coordination  with,  and  supervision  by, 
the  French  Government.  At  the  time  this  work  was  started 
an  acute  need  for  civilian  labor  existed  in  the  A.E.F.  So  great 
was  the  pressure  of  the  necessity  for  construction  work  along 
the  Line  of  Communications  that  combat  troops  needed  at  the 
front  were  engaged  in  large  numbers  in  manual  labor.  The 
labor  organization  was  under  the  necessity  of  furnishing  men 
immediately.  At  the  head  of  this  organization  the  G.P.A. 
appointed  Major  J.  P.  Jackson  (now  Lieutenant-Colonel), 
a  man  of  high  qualities  of  natural  leadership  who  at  all  stages 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  23 

of  this  difficult  task  showed  remarkable  ability,  patience, 
energy,  and  organizing  talent.  The  French  Government  ren- 
dered invaluable  assistance  in  the  work,  and  through  negotia- 
tion with  them  as  well  as  by  the  quick  institution  of  labor 
recruiting  agencies  throughout  Europe,  the  labor  organiza- 
tion was  enabled  to  furnish  men  almost  as  fast  as  they  could 
be  used.  In  the  very  early  stages  of  the  labor  organization  the 
demand  for  labor  was  such  that  men  were  furnished  in  advance 
of  thorough  organization  into  labor  units,  but  the  situation 
was  rapidly  adjusted,  and  during  the  months  preceding  June, 
1918,  the  labor  organization  furnished  sufficient  men  to  re- 
lease for  the  early  and  important  American  offensive  efforts,  a 
number  of  combat  troops  equal  to  a  full  division.  Upwards  of 
1300  commissioned  and  non-commissioned  officers  were  de- 
tailed to  the  Labor  Bureau  of  the  G.P.A.  in  connection  with 
the  militarizing  and  organizing  of  civilian  labor.  With  the 
cooperation  of  the  State  Department,  and  as  a  result  of  a 
visit  to  Italy  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cutcheon,  of  the  Staff  of 
the  G.P.A. ,  3500  militarized  laborers  were  received  from  that 
country.  A  Women's  Division  of  Labor  Bureau  was  estab- 
lished. After  the  first  heavy  pressure  for  workmen  in  the  first 
six  months  had  been  relieved  by  the  Bureau  and  the  civilian 
labor  properly  organized,  the  G.P.A.  recommended  that  the 
control  of  the  labor  organization  be  transferred  more  directly 
to  the  S.O.S.  and  incorporated  in  the  Army  Service  Corps. 
On  September  i,  1918,  the  G.P.A.  transferred  to  the  Army 
Service  Corps  the  control  of  the  organization,  consisting  at 
that  time  of  over  29,000  employees  properly  officered  and 
organized.  Among  the  nationalities  employed  were  French, 
Spanish,  Portuguese,  Italian,  Belgian,  Greek,  North  African, 
Senegalese,  Chinese,  and  Maltese.  Great  credit  should  be 
given  to  the  officers  of  the  Labor  Bureau  for  their  energetic 
and  intelligent  work.  Many  difficult  situations  arose  which 
were  successfully  adjusted,  and  a  high  degree  of  organization 
was  effected.  From  September  i  to  November  11,  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Army  Service  Corps,  the  labor  battalions 


24    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

were  so  increased  that  at  the  time  of  the  armistice  the  total 
number  of  laborers,  men  and  women,  employed  by  the  Labor 
Corps  was  42,000.  Including  replacements  the  total  number 
of  laborers  procured  up  to  this  time  was  over  85,000.  In 
addition  to  the  Chief  of  the  Bureau,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Jackson,  the  G.PA.  desires  to  especially  commend  the  ability, 
energy,  and  good  judgment  of  Major  F.  E.  Estes  (now  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel), Chief  of  Organization  Division;  Captain 
Jeremiah  Smith,  Chief  of  Contracts  and  Foreign  Relations; 
Major  G.  Ijams  (now  Lieutenant-Colonel),  Chief  of  the 
Procurement  Division;  Captain  H.  M.  Sprague,  in  charge 
of  labor  transportation;  and  Sergeant  Robert  C.  Wallace, 
assistant  to  Chief  of  Procurement  Division.  Because  of  his 
contact  with  the  French  Government  the  responsibility  for 
the  procurement  of  labor  did  not  pass  from  the  G.P.A.  to  the 
Army  Service  Corps  in  September,  but  remained  in  the 
G.PA.,  and  Major  G.  Ijams  remained  as  the  representative 
of  the  Labor  Bureau  attached  to  the  office  of  the  G.P.A.  in 
charge  of  this  work. 

The  procurement  of  labor  presented  the  same  difficulties 
as  the  procurement  of  supplies.  There  was  a  great  dearth  of 
man  power  in  Europe  owing  to  the  large  armies  maintained 
by  the  Allies.  The  character  of  the  labor  secured  was  often 
poor  and  the  sources  of  supply  widely  scattered,  and  in  many 
cases  difficult  of  access.  Constant  questions  involving  the 
domestic  labor  policy  of  France,  local  labor  laws  and  customs, 
were  before  the  G.P.A.  and  Labor  Organization  for  adjust- 
ment and  settlement. 

The  form  of  the  organization  which  was  devised  for  han- 
dling labor  was  determined  by  contact  with  an  actual  situa- 
tion. At  the  time  it  was  initiated  the  need  of  immediate  labor 
relief  was  so  acute  that  we  were  ordered  not  to  halt  recruiting 
pending  the  detail  to  us  of  sufficient  officers  to  promptly 
handle  it  and  the  assignment  of  central  depots  for  its  assort- 
ment and  intelligent  distribution.  This  of  necessity  involved 
the  Bureau  in  temporary  embarrassment  in  connection  with 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  25 

post  commanders  when  it  at  first  sent  labor  to  them  improp- 
erly organized,  but  this  difficulty  soon  vanished  as  officers 
were  furnished  us  to  more  completely  man  the  battalions. 
The  fundamental  principle  underlying  the  whole  system  was 
a  central  responsibility  for  recruiting,  care,  transportation, 
maintenance,  and  discipline.  One  reason  for  this  central 
responsibility  was  because  the  French  demanded  an  organiza- 
tion which  they  could  hold  to  account  for  the  keeping  of  the 
agreements  which  in  recruiting  all  labor  it  was  necessary  for 
the  A.E.F.  to  make  with  the  French  Government.  It  was  also 
necessary  from  many  other  standpoints.  The  existence  of  an 
independent  central  control  was  not  only  not  inconsistent  with 
the  military  system  as  organized,  but  essential  to  its  proper 
working.  The  organization  was  charged  with  the  duty  of 
keeping  the  labor  battalions  in  the  requisite  condition  to  do 
their  work  when  during  the  hours  of  labor  they  were  turned 
over  to  the  local  military  authorities.  In  this  organization 
the  G.P.A.  had,  as  always,  the  loyal  support  of  Colonel  H.  C. 
Smither,  Assistant  Chief  of  Staff,  G-4,  S.O.S. ,  and  Colonel 
J.  P.  McAdam,  Deputy  Chief  of  Staff,  S.O.S.  The  fact  that 
these  officers,  in  connection  with  the  relations  of  the  Staff  to 
the  Labor  Bureau,  realized  that  a  contact  of  mind  was  of 
invaluable  assistance  in  the  many  difficult  questions  which 
constantly  arose,  led  them  not  to  make  important  decisions 
having  an  effect  upon  the  discipline  and  conduct  of  this  im- 
portant organization  without  full  knowledge  of  all  the  factors 
involved.  The  wide  latitude  and  discretion  given  the  G.P.A. 
and  the  Labor  Bureau  by  these  officers  did  not  result  in  any 
inclination  of  the  former  to  unduly  assume  authority.  And 
the  same  confidence  given  by  Colonel  Smither  and  Colonel 
McAdam  to  the  G.P.A.  characterized  the  relations  of  the 
latter  with  Colonel  Jackson,  the  able  chief  of  the  Labor 
Bureau. 

It  may  be  unusual  in  a  military  report  of  this  kind,  but  in 
addition  to  an  expression  of  his  high  respect  for  the  ability 
and  consideration  of  Colonel  Smither,  to  whom  he  was  more 


26  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

immediately  responsible,  the  G.P.A.  desires  to  here  record  his 
deep  feeling  of  gratitude  and  friendship. 

12.  Technical  Board.  In  order  to  coordinate,  develop, 
and  utilize  to  the  fullest  extent  the  electrical  power  facilities 
in  France,  and  to  control  the  procurement  in  Europe  of  sup- 
plies and  equipment  which  are  component  parts  of  power 
plants,  the  Technical  Board  was  created  as  a  subdivision  of 
the  office  of  the  G.P.A.  by  G.O.  8,  S.O.S.,  April  8,  1918.  To 
this  Board  were  assigned  experienced  electrical  engineer 
officers,  who  maintained  close  contact  with  the  electrical 
power  requirements  of  the  A.E.F.  and  with  the  available 
facilities  throughout  France,  and  were  able  to  give  compre- 
hensive advice  to  the  construction  forces  on  all  matters  per- 
taining to  light  and  power. 

The  Technical  Board  appointed  by  the  G.P.A.  consisted  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  F.  E.  Drake,  Chairman;  Major  Dugald  C. 
Jackson,  Chief  Engineer;  Captain  A.  B.  Cudebec  and  Cap- 
tain A.  T.  Kennedy.  As  epitomizing  the  extremely  important 
work  of  the  Board,  the  magnitude  of  which  can  be  only  un- 
derstood by  reference  to  the  report  of  Major  Jackson  at- 
tached hereto,  I  quote  the  following  from  the  report  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel F.  E.  Drake  to  the  G.P.A.: 

Officers  of  thorough  experience  and  of  various  lines  of 
technical  activity  were  assigned  to  duty  with  this  Board 
and  the  activities  were  spread  to  all  departments  of  France 
where  troops  or  units  were  stationed.  The  acquisition  of 
power  apparatus  was  supervised  by  this  Board  as  well  as  the 
unification  of  projects,  until,  at  the  signing  of  the  armistice, 
there  were  more  than  300  different  places  in  France  where 
power  or  lighting,  having  a  total  energy  involved  of  more 
than  75,000  h.p.,  had  been  effectively  supervised  and  con- 
trolled by  this  Board. 

The  activities  in  detail  which  are  extremely  interesting  will 
of  necessity  be  of  great  importance  to  future  military  opera- 
tions requiring  similar  services,  so  that  the  history  of  the 
operations  of  the  Technical  Board  as  being  prepared  and  sub- 
mitted in  formal  report  by  its  Chief  Engineer,  will  become 
an  important  document.    The  presentation  of  his  report  in 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  27 

elaborate  detail  will  be  made  to  you  by  Major  Dugald  C. 
Jackson. 

In  this  connection  I  wish  to  speak  in  the  highest  possible 
terms  of  the  technical  services  rendered  by  Major  Jackson  as 
Chief  Engineer  of  the  Board,  whose  well-known  status  in  the 
electrical  engineering  profession  throughout  the  United  States 
and  Europe  is  known  to  the  scientific  world.  His  personal 
activities  and  energy  since  joining  your  staff  have  been  of  the 
highest  order  and  his  well-deserved  promotion  could  only  have 
been  prevented  by  the  signing  of  the  armistice. 

I  wish  also  to  especially  refer  to  the  devoted  services  of 
Captain  A.  B.  Cudebec,  who,  until  the  arrival  of  Major  Jack- 
son, served  as  Acting  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Technical  Board 
and  actually  the  officer  organizing  its  first  operations  under  my 
immediate  direction.  Captain  Cudebec  has  shown  not  only 
his  experience  in  great  power  projects  in  the  United  States, 
but  his  technical  appreciation  and  very  great  ability  in  nego- 
tiating and  treating  with  the  various  French  authorities  and 
private  interests  with  whom  we  have  had  to  operate.  Captain 
Cudebec  is  hereby  commended  as  a  most  efficient  engineer 
with  unusual  experience  and  foresight  and  his  work  for 
the  Technical  Board  has  been  most  important  and  satis- 
factory. 

13.  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments.  The  Board  of 
Contracts  and  Adjustments  was  established  under  CO.  29, 
G.H.Q.,  February  14,  1918,  in  the  Office  of  the  G.P.A.  to 
prepare  contracts  and  agreements  between  the  different  de- 
partments of  the  A.E.F.  and  corresponding  departments  of 
the  French  or  British  Governments,  to  advise  officers  charged 
with  the  handling  of  contracts  and  the  obligations  accruing 
therefrom,  and  to  aid  in  the  adjustment  and  settlement  of 
outstanding  obligations  resulting  from  agreements  of  the 
United  States  with  foreign  Governments. 

The  need  of  the  existence  of  a  Board  of  Contracts  and  Ad- 
justments became  evident  to  the  G.P.A.  very  early  in  the 
administration  of  his  office.  It  was  again  the  ever-existing 
emergency  confronting  the  A.E.F.  which  required  the  tem- 
porary establishment  of  a  legal  department  concerning  itself 
largely  with  the  inter-army  and  inter-government  business 


28  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

passing  through  the  hands  of  the  G.P.A.  Having  recom- 
mended the  establishment  of  such  a  board  to  the  C.-in-C, 
and  having  received  authority  to  proceed  with  its  organiza- 
tion, the  G.P.A.  was  concerned  with  the  necessity  of  securing 
a  man  of  commanding  ability  and  legal  experience  to  place  at 
its  head.  He  had  not  then  met  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cutcheon, 
but  was  acquainted  with  his  high  standing  as  a  lawyer.  At 
that  time  Colonel  Cutcheon  was  engaged  in  organization  work 
of  the  Red  Cross  in  Washington.  The  C.-in-C,  at  the  instance 
of  the  G.P.A.,  having  offered  him  a  Captain's  commission,  he 
accepted  the  same  and  came  to  Europe  in  February,  1918. 
To  him  upon  his  appointment  the  G.P.A.  turned  over  the 
organization  of  this  most  important  business,  giving  him 
unlimited  discretion  as  to  mode  of  procedure  and  in  the  selec- 
tion of  the  Board  and  its  assistants.  To  a  realization  of  the 
large  accomplishments  of  the  Board  of  Contracts  and  Ad- 
justments under  Colonel  Cutcheon,  and  under  his  able  suc- 
cessor, Major  Carl  Taylor,  it  is  necessary  to  read  the  attached 
report.  So  burdensome  were  the  duties,  so  continuous  the 
work  and  so  limited  was  the  personnel  of  the  Board  that  its 
success  was  only  achieved  at  great  cost  of  physical  strain  and 
mental  effort.  No  lawyer  can  read  the  report  of  the  Board  of 
Contracts  and  Adjustments  without  agreeing  with  the  G.P.A. 
that  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cutcheon  and  to  his  assistant  who 
afterwards  succeeded  him.  Major  Carl  Taylor,  are  due  special 
acknowledgment  and  appreciation. 

14.  Financial  Requisition  Officer.  On  July  12,  191 8,  the 
office  of  Financial  Requisition  Officer  was  created  in  the  office 
of  the  G.P.A.  GO.  41,  Hq.,  S.O.S.,  September  2,  1918, 
changed  the  system  of  requisitioning,  receipt,  and  disburse- 
ment of  funds  in  the  A.E.F.,  and  put  into  operation  a  new 
method,  effective  as  of  October  i,  which  provided  that  funds 
"be  credited  by  the  Treasurer  of  the  U.S.  to  the  Financial 
Requisition  Officer,  A.E.F.,  upon  approval  of  his  requisitions, 
based  upon  estimates  submitted  by  disbursing  officers  and 
forecasts  received  from  the  various  departments."  The  order 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  29 

directed  that  fixed  credits  be  established  in  the  name  of  the 
Financial  Requisition  Officer  in  depositories  designated  by  the 
latter,  these  credits  to  be  maintained  by  transfers  from  funds 
to  his  credit  with  the  Treasurer  of  the  United  States,  that 
individual  balances  to  the  credit  of  Disbursing  Officers  in  the 
depositories  be  discontinued,  and  that  the  latter  draw  checks 
against  the  credits  of  the  Financial  Requisition  Officer  in  the 
depositories  up  to  the  limit  of  authorizations  given  them  by 
the  latter.  The  new  system  was  designed  to  free  the  large 
sums  of  money  which  had  in  the  past  remained  for  consider- 
able periods  unavailable  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  moneys 
received  could  be  used  only  for  disbursement  under  the  par- 
ticular appropriations  under  which  they  were  requisitioned, 
the  unused  balance  of  one  disbursing  officer  not  being  avail- 
able for  use  by  another. 

This  office  should  not  be  confused  with  the  disbursing 
officers  of  the  various  corps  who  made  the  actual  payments  of 
money.  The  Financial  Requisition  Officer  afforded  simply  a 
convenient  method  of  securing  funds  for  the  disbursing  officers 
and  reducing  the  surplus  funds  needed  to  provide  for  an 
emergency. 

The  Financial  Requisition  Officer  of  the  A.E.F.  is  Captain 
R.  Ives,  who  rendered  most  creditable  and  important  service 
to  the  army  and  to  the  Government. 

15.  Bureau  of  Accounts.  The  Bureau  of  Accounts  was  or- 
ganized under  G.O.  4,  Hq.,  S.O.S. ,  March  23,  191 8,  for  the 
purpose  of  recording,  compiling,  and  furnishing  information 
and  statistics  with  respect  to  claims,  contracts,  arrangements 
for  replacements,  and  other  obligations  existing  between  the 
United  States  and  European  countries. 

The  Bureau  of  Accounts  was  established  by  the  G.P.A.  on 
April  27,  1918,  and  functioned  under  him  until  its  transfer  to 
the  office  of  the  Finance  Officer  of  the  A.E.F.,  November  8, 
19 1 8.  A  resume  of  its  work  is  contained  in  the  attached  report 
of  Captain  Charles  R.  Stanley,  to  which  attention  is  asked. 
This  Bureau  functioned  under  great  difficulty  with  insufficient 


30  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

personnel,  but,  notwithstanding,  the  results  obtained  were 
most  creditable. 

1 6.  Bureau  of  Reciprocal  Supply.  As  a  result  of  the  de- 
mands for  replacement  of  raw  materials  made  by  foreign 
Governments  and  private  firms  and  corporations  arising  out 
of  the  manufacture  of  articles  of  equipment  for  the  A.E.F. 
in  European  countries,  the  Bureau  of  Reciprocal  Supply  was 
established  by  G.O.  152,  G.H.Q.,  September  10,  1918,  in  the 
office  of  the  G.PA.,  for  investigating  all  replacement  claims 
pertaining  to  articles  for  military  supply  and  for  recommend- 
ing to  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  the  means  of  their  adjustment.  The 
Bureau  was  authorized  to  negotiate  with  the  War  Industries 
Board  and  the  Director  of  Purchases  in  Washington  the 
necessary  purchase  priorities  for  such  materials  and  to  ar- 
range with  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  for  the  allotment  of  the  A.E.F. 
tonnage  needed  to  transport  them  to  France. 

The  Chief  of  this  Bureau  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  Perry 
Osborne.  This  Bureau  was  successfully  engaged  in  some  very 
important  negotiations,  but  its  late  formation  and  the  declara- 
tion of  the  armistice  made  its  field  of  activities  limited. 

Special  Activities  of  the  G.P.A.  The  activities  and  nego- 
tiations of  the  G.P.A.  which  became  necessary  as  a  result  of 
the  new  environment  of  allied  warfare  in  which  each  army  was 
placed  cannot  be  adequately  covered  here.  A  Report  of  Daily 
Activities,  by  order  of  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  was  made  by  the 
G.P.A.  from  March  10,  1918,  to  December  31,  1918,  and  is 
hereto  attached  as  an  appendix.  As  prior  to  that  time  no 
record  was  kept  of  his  daily  activities,  save  that  preserved  in 
official  correspondence,  no  extended  reference  will  be  made  to 
them  here.  These  activities,  like  the  office  of  the  G.P.A.  and 
G.P.B.,  had  no  precedent. 

Starting  with  the  detail  of  a  few  officers  the  G.P.A.  com- 
menced his  duties.  When,  in  considering  that  part  of  the 
business  of  the  army  which  passed  through  his  hands,  he 
realized  that  our  foreign  environment  and  relation  to  our 
allies  required  new  departments  of  activity  in  the  existing 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  31 

army  organization  to  provide  for  the  proper  conduct  of  its 
business,  he  suggested  their  formation,  and  when  authorized 
they  were  placed  under  his  jurisdiction.  This  fact,  with  the 
fact  of  his  location  in  Paris,  is  responsible  for  the  creation  of  so 
many  departments  of  activities  with  such  widely  divergent 
fields,  as,  for  instance,  the  Labor  Bureau,  the  Technical 
Board,  the  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,  and  the 
Bureau  of  Accounts.  The  first  request  for  activity  in  Septem- 
ber, 1917,  outside  of  prescribed  lines,  which  was  the  precursor 
of  many  others,  was  the  order  of  the  C.-in-C.  to  organize  the 
transport  of  coal  from  England  in  view  of  an  acute  crisis 
existing  at  that  time  in  the  coal  supply  of  the  A.E.F.  A  plan 
was  devised,  afterward  passed  upon  by  an  Army  Board  and 
confirmed  by  the  French  Government,  for  the  shipment  of 
coal  from  English  to  French  ports  by  American  transports  and 
the  exchange  for  coal  from  French  mines  in  the  interior  in  an 
amount  equal  to  that  unloaded  from  England  at  the  French 
ports,  thus  saving  domestic  transportation  in  France  of  the 
army  supply  of  coal.  The  services  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Frederick  Trevor  Hill  were  especially  important  in  this  con- 
nection, and  to  him  should  be  given  chief  credit  for  the  plan 
devised.  The  G.P.A.  placed  at  the  head  of  this  work  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel H.  B.  Moore  (then  Captain),  who  after\vard 
became  and  so  continued  until  the  end  of  the  war  the  Director 
of  Army  Transport  Service  of  the  A.E.F. ,  rendering  services  of 
most  exceptional  usefulness  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
He  was  the  first  ofiicer  of  the  A.E.F.  to  receive  promotion 
from  the  C.-in-C.   in  recognition  of  efficiency. 

After  the  immediate  pressure  of  the  coal  situation  was  over 
the  work  and  organization  passed  to  the  regular  channels  of 
the  army.  Again,  where  in  the  activities  of  a  separate  service 
of  the  army  there  were  special  occasions  and  matters  in  which 
inter- Allied  cooperation  was  needed,  the  services  of  the  G.P.A. 
were  invoked  either  to  expedite  or  to  supervise  for  the  time 
being  the  special  activities  of  the  separate  services.  The  fine 
understanding  which  grew  up  between  the  G.P.A.  and  the 


32  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

able  and  efficient  independent  heads  of  the  separate  services 
was  such  that  so  far  from  being  made  to  feel  unwelcome  in 
such  special  work  of  this  nature  as  was  imposed  upon  him  by 
the  C.-in-C.  and  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  the  G.P.A.  met  on  their 
part  a  cooperation  in  the  common  effort  and  spirit  of  team- 
play  which  facilitated  in  every  way  his  special  efforts.  As 
coming  direct  from  civil  life  into  the  army  organization  the 
G.PA.  desires  to  record  here  his  appreciation  of  the  free- 
dom from  smallness  and  jealousy  on  the  part  of  the  chiefs  of 
the  services  in  connection  with  what  was  at  times  clearly 
an  invasion  of  individual  authority  and  prerogative,  none  the 
more  welcome  because  it  had  behind  it  the  pressure  of  acute 
military  emergency.  In  some  instances  where  special  duties 
were  imposed  upon  him,  such  as  recruiting,  organizing, 
transporting,  and  militarizing  civilian  labor,  the  G.P.A,  was 
compelled  to  use  almost  entirely  the  machinery  of  an  inde- 
pendent service,  which  was  possible  only  through  the  most 
complete  cooperation  and  understanding  with  its  chief.  An 
example  of  this  was  the  use  by  the  G.P.A.  of  the  financial 
machinery  of  the  Engineer  Department  in  connection  with 
the  recruiting  of  the  civ^ilian  labor  force  of  the  American  army 
in  France.  As  among  the  names  of  those  conspicuous  for 
their  spirit  of  most  generous  and  broad  cooperation  in  the 
emergency  activities  of  the  G.P.A.,  he  desires  to  mention 
Major-General  H.  L.  Rogers,  Quartermaster-General;  Major- 
General  W.  C.  Langfitt,  Chief  Engineer;  Major-General 
M.  M.  Patrick,  Chief  of  Air  Service;  Brigadier-General  Edgar 
Jadwin,  Director  of  Construction  and  Forestry;  Brigadier- 
General  C.  R.  Krauthoff,  General  Sales  Agent;  Brigadier- 
General  H.  E.  Wilkins,  Chief  Purchasing  Officer,  Q.M.C.  (now 
Chief  Quartermaster,  Port  of  New  York) ;  Brigadier-General 
Wheeler,  Chief  Ordnance  Officer;  Brigadier-General  Edward 
Russell,  Chief  Signal  Officer;  Colonel  C.  McD.  Townsend, 
Chief  Purchasing  Officer,  Engineer  Corps;  Colonel  E.  D. 
Bricker,  Chief  Purchasing  Officer,  Ordnance;  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  H.  B.  Moore,  Director  Army  Transport  Service. 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S. 


33 


It  was  in  such  special  work,  which,  like  his  service  upon  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  was  not  contemplated  at  the 

STATEMENT  OF  APPROXIMATE  TRAXS-ATLANTIC  SHIP 
TONNAGE  SAVED  BY  AMERICAN  EXPEDITIOXARY 
FORCE  PURCHASES  IN   EUROPE  TO  DECEMBER,  1918 


Quartermasler  Corps: 

Purchases  through  Chief  Purchasing  Officer . 

Coal 

Autos  and  other  vehicles  purchased  by  Trans 
port  Dept.  later  taken  over  by  M.T.S.. .  . 

Horses  and  mules 

Fuel  wood 

Charcoal 

Machine  tools  (through  G.P.A.) 

Ordnance  Department : 

Purchases  through  Chief  Purchasing  Officer 
(includes  orders  executed  here,  prelimi- 
nary arrangements  for  which  were  m.ade 
with  French  Government  by  Chief  of  Ord- 
nance at  Washington,  estimated  at  loo,- 
000  tons) 

Engineer  Corps  : 

Purchases  through  Chief  Purchasing  Officer. 
Purchases  through  Comite  Inter-allie  des 
Bois  de  Guerre: 

Lumber  and  ties 

Mf 'd  fuel  wood 

Lumber  and  ties  through  Wood  Section 
(General  Purchasing  Board) 

A  ir  Service 

Medical  Corps : 

Gen.  stores  and  supplies 

Hospital  trains  and  mobile  hospitals 

Signal  Corps , 

Chemical  War/are  Service 

Motor  Transport  Corps 

Total  Ship  Tonnage  on  Purchases 

Locomotives  leased  from  Belgian  State  Railways 
Grand  Total  Ship  Tonnage 


Total 


810,717 
1,438,27s 

132,284 

1,401,592 

1,546,038 

10,279 

20,000 


5,359,185 


514,260 

1,729,172 

792,469 
974,202 

213,480 


3,709,323 
253,503 

231,80s 
40,250 


272,055 
30,76s 
13.050 
11,994 


10,164,13s 
28,786 


10,192,921 


French 
Govern- 
ment 


162,143 


1,085,776 
618,415 


1,866,334 


275,361 


241,124 


316,988 
389,681 

39,860 


987,653 
190,000 


30,947 
8,750 


39,697 

16, 995 

1,697 

3,770 


3,381,507 


England 
Govern- 
ment and 
Commercial 


211,750 
1,438,27s 

98,866 
168,240 

1,463 


1,918,594 


167,329 


396,000 


396,000 
18,500 

28,978 
28,500 


57,478 

995 

4,872 

844 


2,564,612 


Commer- 
cial other 
than  in 
England 


436,824 


33,418 

147.576 

927.623 

8,816 

20,000 


1.574.257 


71.570 


1,092,048 


475.481 
584.521 

173,620 


2,325,670 
4S.003 


171,880 
3.000 


174,880 

12,775 

6.481 

7.380 

4,218,016 


34 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 


time  of  his  appointment  to  office,  that  the  G.P.A.  carried  his 
heaviest  burden. 

Estimate  of  trans-Atlantic  Tonnage  saved.  From  the  very- 
first  the  office  of  the  G.P.A.  thought  largely  in  terms  of 
tonnage  to  be  saved.  From  the  beginning,  in  constant  cooper- 
ation with  the  chiefs  of  the  services,  it  gave  every  attention  to 
making  estimates  of  tonnage  purchased  on  this  side  as  accurate 
as  possible.   The  G.PA.  believes  that  the  estimates  of  ton- 


STATEMENT  OF  TRANS-ATLANTIC  CARGO  UNLOADED 
IN  FRANCE  AND  TRANS- ATLANTIC  TONNAGE  SAVED 
BY  PURCHASES  IN  EUROPE  TO  DECEMBER  31,  191 8 
(SHIP  TONS) 


1917 
June 

July 

August .  .  .  . 
September . 
October.  .  . 
November. 
December . 
1918 
January. . . 
February . . 
March.  .  .  . 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August .  .  . 
September . 
October .  .  . 
November . 
December . 


Trans-Atlantic 
cargo  unloaded 
in  France  from 
first  arrival  to 
Dec.  31,  1918 


34.578 
33,529 
39.980 

47.732 
97,091 

129,904 
101,737 

192,184 
189,861 
327.020 

424,437 
538,186 

643,139 
661,664 
740,660 
794.037 
897,115 
901,919 
880,637 


Trans- A  tlantic 
tonnage  saved 
by  A.E.F.  pur- 
chases in  Europe 
to  Dec.  31, 1918 


7.675,410 


273.430 
181,427 

319.713 
294,969 

1,041,020 
139,338 

460,777 
346,012 
450,129 
476,422 
985,684 
1,575,070 

973,787 
1,129,094 

855,379 
690,670 


Grand 

monthly 

totals 


10,192,921 


34.578 
33,529 
39.980 
321,162 
278,518 
449,617 
396,706 

1,233,204 

329,199 

787,797 

770,449 

988,315 

1,119,561 

1,647,348 

2,315,730 

1,767,824 

2,026,209 

1.757,298 

1.571,307 


17,868,331 


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36  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

nage  purchased  in  Europe,  as  given  in  the  report  of  Captain 
Newman  attached  hereto,  are  very  conservative.  In  regard 
to  purchases  in  England,  while  purchases  were  consummated 
by  agencies  of  the  British  Government  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  coordination  and  protection  against  excessive  prices, 
the  purchasing  agents  of  the  independent  services,  under  the 
supervision  of  the  purchasing  agent  in  England,  were  very 
active  in  searching  out  supplies  which  at  their  instance  were 
secured  for  the  A.E.F.  by  the  British  Government.  Special 
acknowledgment  is  due  the  British  Government  for  its  in- 
valuable service  to  the  A.E.F.  in  this  connection.  The  figure 
used  in  the  introduction  to  this  Report  of  approximately 
10,000,000  ship  tons  of  material  procured  in  Europe  up  to 
November  11,  1918,  is  fixed  at  that  sum  based  upon  the  fol- 
lowing report  of  tonnage  saved  up  to  December  31,  1918. 
In  the  period  between  November  1 1 ,  the  date  of  the  armistice, 
and  December  31,  1918,  there  were  practically  no  orders 
placed,  the  principal  activities  of  the  services  being  directed 
toward  the  cancellation  of  previous  orders.  Allowance  in  the 
estimate  of  tonnage  has  been  made  for  cancellations  since  the 
armistice.  In  the  judgment  of  the  experts  of  the  G.P.A.'s 
ofifice,  headed  by  Captain  J.  J.  Newman,  the  figure  of  10,- 
000,000  ship  tons  up  to  November  11  fairly  represents  the 
net  tonnage  procured. 

French  Cooperation.  The  splendid  cooperation  of  the  French 
Government  in  the  supply  procurement  effort  of  the  A.E.F. 
in  France,  and  the  evolution  of  the  machinery  for  the  co- 
ordination of  purchases  with  the  French,  demand  extended 
comment.  The  very  statement  that  the  system  of  coordi- 
nation was  an  evolution  having  its  origin  in  emergency  and 
being  without  precedent,  is  only  another  form  of  a  statement 
that  its  processes  were  at  first  incomplete  and  that  many 
unsatisfactory  conditions  were  never  wholly  removed.  The 
importance  of  this  subject  and  the  magnificent  cooperation 
of  the  French  Government  in  our  supply  efforts  may  as  well 
be  emphasized  here  by  the  statement  that  approximately 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  37 

one  half  of  the  entire  material  and  supplies  used  by  the  A.E.F. 
from  the  beginning  to  the  date  of  the  armistice,  to  wit,  about 
seven  million  tons,  were  secured  in  France.  An  examination 
of  the  history  of  the  French  machinery  of  coordination  at- 
tached to  this  Report,  prepared  by  Commandant  Varaigne, 
Chairman  of  the  French  Mission,  will  indicate,  when  read, 
the  difficulties  with  which  the  French  Government  and  army 
had  to  contend  in  connection  with  our  requirements,  as  well 
as  our  own  difficulties.    It  will  also  indicate,  when  read  in 
connection  with  this  Report,  that  the  system  of  coordination 
and  cooperation,  which  was  evolved  through  mutual  nego- 
tiation and  effort,  was  one  based  upon  experience  and  neces- 
sity, and  not  upon  theory.   From  its  inception  the  demands 
of  the  A.E.F.  for  material  in  France  were  tremendous  and 
insistent.    In  the  early  stages  it  was  necessary  for  our  army 
to  secure  an  immense  amount  of  material  to  form  the  base 
of  the  great  pyramid  of  construction  and  supply  facilities 
which  was  afterw^ards  erected  upon  it.   With  the  French,  as 
with  ourselves,  the  evolution  of  the  system  was  not  allowed 
to  interfere  with  every  possible  effort  to  expedite  the  current 
satisfaction  of  our  needs  both  from  the  French  Government 
and  in  the  open  market.   Considering  the  pressure  of  emer- 
gency under  which  all  acted,  the  system  of  protection  against 
exorbitant  prices  and  against  loose  business  methods  had  a 
very  rapid  and  steady  evolution.   It  reached  a  high  degree  of 
effectiveness  as  far  back  as  December,  191 7,  when  the  ma- 
chinery, on  the  French  side,  was  provided  by  the  "Office 
Central  des  Relations  Franco-Americaines."  This  new  office, 
headed  by  M.  Maurice  Ganne,  and  attached  to  the  Presidency 
of  the  Council,  had  been  instituted  especially  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  continued  its  work  until  May,  1918.    During  the 
first  sixty  days  of  the  operations  of  the  G.P.A.  and  the  G.P.B. 
the  method  of  securing  a  greater  measure  of  coordination 
between  our  own  purchases  and  the  purchases  of  all  our  allies 
both  in  France  and  in  neutral  and  other  Allied  countries 
were  the  subject  of  much  consideration  by  the  C.-in-C.  and 


38  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

the  G.PA.  in  conference.  Numerous  conferences  were  had 
by  the  G.PA.  also  with  the  French  and  English  authorities. 
The  general  method  for  protection  against  exorbitant  prices 
in  France  resulted  from  an  early  conference  between  the 
C.-in-C,  General  Ragueneau,  Chief  of  the  French  Mission 
at  G.H.Q.,  and  the  G.P.A. 

Attached  to  this  report  are  copies  of  correspondence  out- 
lining the  general  principles  and  on  very  general  lines  the 
plan  which  was  agreed  upon  in  this  connection.  There  is  at- 
tached also  an  extract  from  a  memorandum  of  a  conference 
between  the  C.-in-C.  and  the  G.P.A.  as  further  indicating 
the  general  situation  in  a  letter  which  the  C.-in-C.  forwarded 
to  the  chiefs  of  all  the  services  of  the  A.E.F.  The  plan  evolved 
from  these  conferences  and  put  into  practical  effect  is  best 
stated  in  its  detail  in  the  attached  report  of  its  operations 
prepared  by  Commandant  Varaigne,  of  the  Mission,  headed 
first  by  M.  Ganne,  Director  of  the  Office  Central,  till  the  end 
of  May,  1918,  and  then  by  M.  Andre  Tardieu,  Commissaire 
General  des  Affaires  de  Guerre  Franco-Americaines.  The 
acute  supply  situation  in  France  which  resulted  in  an  over- 
whelming demand  for  an  insufficient  supply  made  the  inter- 
vention of  French  governmental  authority  absolutely  essen- 
tial to  protection  from  extortion  and  grossly  exorbitant 
prices.  Upon  our  purchasing  officers  rested  always  a  powerful 
and  insistent  pressure  from  the  heads  of  their  services  charged 
with  the  execution  of  most  essential  military  construction 
and  supply.  To  the  chiefs  of  the  independent  services 
burdened  with  a  well-nigh  impossible  task,  having  a  direct 
military  purpose,  the  question  of  price  was  properly  secondary 
in  their  minds.  The  problem  was  to  prevent  the  emergency 
from  creating  an  indifference  to  price  which  would  result  in 
submission  to  exorbitant  demands  unnecessary  to  accom- 
plish purchases.  It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  enormous 
saving  and  protection  afforded  by  the  French  Government, 
due  to  the  Commission  headed  successively  by  M.  Maurice 
Ganne  and  M.  Andre  Tardieu.  The  bureau  of  the  Chef  de  la 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  39 

Mission  du  Commissariat  G^n^ral  des  Affaires  de  Guerre 
Franco-Americaine,  attached  in  liaison  to  the  headquarters 
of  the  G.P.A.,  was  composed  of  men  selected  because  of  their 
excellent  qualifications  both  as  to  character,  energy,  and 
ability.  Not  only  did  they  assist  in  every  way  in  the  protec- 
tion of  the  entire  purchasing  processes  of  the  A.E.F.  from 
exorbitant  prices,  but  they  were  invaluable  in  their  efforts 
to  expedite  the  furnishing  of  supplies  from  the  French  Gov- 
ernment and  to  uncover  new  sources  of  supply  in  the  open 
market.  The  American  army  and  the  American  nation 
owe  a  great  debt  to  the  men  of  this  organization  and  those 
responsible  for  its  formation.  Considering  the  lack  of  ship- 
ping from  the  United  States  and  the  stripped  supply  con- 
ditions of  France,  it  was  only  by  the  most  unusual  effort  and 
the  greatest  devotion  to  the  cause  that  they  accomplished 
their  task. 

The  activities  of  M.  Andre  Tardieu,  Commissaire  General 
des  Affaires  de  Guerre  Franco-Americaines,  in  the  furtherance 
of  practical  cooperation  as  well  as  of  good  understanding  be- 
tween the  French  and  American  Governments,  have  been  so 
important  and  varied  that  they  covered  many  other  fields 
than  the  one  in  which  he  came  into  relation  with  the  office  of 
the  G.P.A. 

Immediately  upon  his  return  to  France  from  the  United 
States  in  the  spring  of  1918,  the  stimulus  of  his  energetic  and 
able  intervention  in  behalf  of  the  A.E.F.  in  the  supply  situa- 
tion of  our  army  was  evidenced  in  a  most  practical  way. 
Outside  of  the  rear  of  the  French  army,  which  was  controlled 
by  G.H.Q.  in  the  Zone  of  the  Advance,  the  French  Zone  of  the 
Rear  was  controlled  by  civil  authority  working  along  military 
lines,  and  was  represented  by  the  Ministers  of  the  different 
departments  of  the  Government.  It  was  at  first  extremely 
difficult  for  the  G.P.A.  to  secure  immediate  decision  of  vital 
supply  questions  where  it  involved  consultation  and  agree- 
ment among  several  French  civilian  points  of  authority.  To 
have  a  man  of  the  commanding  ability  of  M.  Tardieu,  in- 


40  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

tensely  devoted  to  the  common  interest  of  both  France  and 
the  United  States,  concerned  in  the  task  of  coordinating 
French  authority  to  match  the  centraHzed  military  authority 
of  the  G.P.A.  was  of  inestimable  advantage  in  the  avoidance 
of  delay  and  misunderstanding.  The  thanks  of  our  nation  are 
due  to  M.  Andre  Tardieu  and  his  earnest  advocacy  before 
French  civil  authority  at  all  times  of  our  supply  needs.  The 
G.P.A.  cannot  leave  this  subject  without  referring  also  to  the 
invaluable  service  to  the  French  and  American  Governments 
of  M.  Ganne,  Delegue  General  du  Commissaire  General  des 
Affaires  de  Guerre  Franco-Americaines,  a  man  of  indefatiga- 
ble energy,  intense  patriotism,  and  devotion  to  the  common 
cause.  He  had  upon  his  shoulders  a  continual  burden  of  most 
important  tasks.  With  ceaseless  labor  and  tireless  energy  he 
was  engaged  in  the  difficult  task  of  assisting  the  A.E.F.  in  its 
supply  requirements  with  a  due  consideration  of  the  extremely 
difficult  supply  situation  in  which  the  French  Government 
and  army  found  itself.  Like  his  noble  and  able  assistant.  Com- 
mandant Varaigne,  he  gave  immediate  response  to  every  call 
for  help  from  the  American  army.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say 
that  without  the  efforts  of  M.  Andre  Tardieu,  M.  Ganne,  and 
Commandant  Varaigne,  the  supply  procurement  of  the  A.E.F. 
could  not  have  been  accomplished.  When  the  American  army 
entered  France  the  exigencies  of  war,  accelerating  the  operation 
of  the  rule  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  had  put  these  men  in 
an  influential  position  in  French  administration.  To  them 
and  to  their  associates,  whose  names  the  G.P.A.  has  not  space 
to  mention  here,  the  thanks  of  the  army  and  nation  are  due. 
Whether  in  the  early  days  we  were  seeking  metal  and  timber 
for  primary  construction,  or  whether,  in  the  later  days  in  the 
St.  Mihiel  and  the  Argonne-Meuse  battles,  we  were  crying 
for  horses  to  take  our  artillery  into  action,  for  ammunition 
to  fire  from  our  guns,  or  for  camions  to  transport  our  troops 
into  action,  these  men  and  their  associates,  with  an  energy 
and  devotion  which  knew  no  limit,  found  in  some  way  the 
means  to  assist  us  and  to  enable  us  to  surmount  acute  crises. 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  41 

The  French  Mission  who  secured  the  governmental  approval 
necessary  before  we  could  make  any  purchases  occupied  a 
position  of  great  responsibility  not  only  to  the  American 
army,  but  to  the  burdened  French  civilian  population  and 
the  heroic  French  army.  Our  demands  were  insistent,  over- 
whelming, and  critical.  Much  of  what  was  necessary  to  put 
our  troops  effectively  into  action  had  to  come  from  France. 
France  itself  was  largely  stripped  of  military  supplies.  Al- 
most every  cession  to  the  American  army  meant  a  curtail- 
ment acutely  felt  by  some  portion  of  the  French  people  and 
their  brave  army.  The  efforts  of  the  French  Mission  remind 
us  that  it  was  not  upon  the  battle-field  alone  that  Frenchmen 
and  Americans  were  as  brothers  in  a  common  effort. 

British  Cooperation.  Under  the  provisions  of  a  General 
Order  the  G.P.A.  was  named  as  the  sole  agent  for  the  negotia- 
tion of  supply  matters  of  the  A.E.F.  with  Allied  Governments. 
His  activities  in  this  connection  began  as  soon  as  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  his  position  and  continued  throughout  the  w^ar. 
Transportation  and  aircraft  negotiations  with  the  Allied 
Governments  were  conducted  by  other  departments  and  cer- 
tain other  negotiations  were  conducted  by  departments  in- 
dependently of  the  G.P.A.  While  not,  therefore,  the  sole 
agent  in  the  negotiation  of  supply  arrangements,  he  has 
been  the  chief  agent  therein,  the  majority  of  all  such  matters 
having  passed  through  his  hands.  As  representing  the  A.E.F. 
with  our  allies  in  these  important  negotiations,  his  unique  ex- 
perience fits  him  to  testify  to  the  splendid  cooperation  of  the 
British  Government  in  the  work  of  the  A.E.F.  without  which 
its  supply  efforts  might  have  failed.  The  G.P.A.,  therefore, 
desires  to  express  his  appreciation  of  the  cooperation  of  the 
military  and  civil  authorities  of  our  great  sister  nation,  Great 
Britain.  The  closeness  of  understanding,  the  immediate  re- 
sponse to  our  needs,  the  thoughtful,  constant,  and  often  un- 
solicited consideration  of  our  necessities  on  the  part  of  our 
British  allies  deserve  our  national  gratitude.  In  this  statement 
the  G.P.A.  has  not  in  mind  that  supreme  act  of  self-sacrifice 


42  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

in  the  common  good  when  the  British  nation  sacrificed  its 
domestic  trade  in  the  transport  of  so  large  a  part  of  the  Ameri- 
can army  to  France,  which  made  common  victory  possible. 
He  is  referring  to  what  the  British  Government  and  the  offi- 
cials of  the  British  army  did  in  relation  to  the  supply  needs 
of  the  A.E.F.  in  France.  During  the  first  week  of  his  duties 
he  was  called  upon  by  Colonel  Harry  Maud  and  his  assist- 
ant, Lieutenant-Colonel  G.  Davidson,  representing  General 
Carter,  the  Director-General  of  Forage  and  Supply  of  the 
B.E.F.  From  that  interview  —  which  itself  resulted  in  our 
securing  from  English  sources  over  6(X),0C)0  railroad  ties 
from  Portugal,  with  the  saving  of  tonnage  from  America  in- 
cident thereto  —  to  the  end  of  the  war,  there  came  such  ad- 
dition to  the  material  supplies  of  our  army  as  justifies  the 
statement  that  without  them  our  task  would  have  been 
well-nigh  impossible  of  accomplishment.  Over  two  million 
tons  of  material  absolutely  requisite  to  the  success  of  Ameri- 
can effort  in  France  were  received  by  cross-channel  shipping, 
and  in  the  supplying  of  this  our  English  cousins  at  the  time 
cut  deeply  into  their  own  insufficient  stocks.  During  the 
Argonne-Meuse  Battle  the  G.P.A.  was  suddenly  made  di- 
rectly responsible  by  the  C.-in-C.  for  our  animal  supply  at 
the  front.  Notwithstanding  the  G.P.A.  knew  at  the  time 
that  the  British  Government  was  practically  at  the  limit  of 
its  resources  in  artillery  horses,  it  was  with  no  doubt  of  re- 
sponse that  he  sounded  the  "call  of  the  blood"  during  those 
critical  days.  Marshal  Haig,  General  Sir  John  Cowans,  and 
General  Travers-Clarke  all  immediately  acted.  The  advice, 
the  services,  the  materials  supplied,  and  the  sympathy  and 
generosity  with  which  the  British  Government  and  army 
endeavored  to  cooperate  with  the  American  army  through 
the  office  of  the  G.P.A.,  were  such  that  it  is  impossible  to  at- 
tempt enumeration,  but  only,  in  a  report  of  this  kind,  to  make 
this  wholly  inadequate  but  heartfelt  acknowledgment  of 
them. 

Cooperation  of  the  War  Trade  Board.   It  early  became  evi- 


COLONEL  HARRY  MAUD,  B.E.F. 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  43 

dent  that  the  possession  of  raw  material  by  the  United  States, 
and  the  dependence  thereon  of  neutral  and  Allied  countries 
for  their  domestic  supply,  constituted  a  powerful  leverage  if 
properly  used  by  the  United  States  to  assist  the  A.E.F.  in 
securing  supplies  in  Europe.  Great  difficulty  was  experienced 
by  the  G.P.A.  from  the  first  in  securing  export  permits  in 
neutral  countries  for  the  shipment  of  supplies  to  the  American 
army  in  France.  An  early  effort  was  made  to  secure  informa- 
tion as  to  what  supplies  in  neutral  countries  would  be  of  assist- 
ance to  our  army  and  to  our  allies,  the  securing  of  which 
would  be  expedited  by  the  cooperation  of  the  State  Depart- 
ment in  connection  with  embargo  pressure  upon  the  shipment 
of  raw  materials  to  these  countries  from  the  United  States. 
It  may  be  stated  generally  that  while  every  effort  was  made 
from  the  first  by  the  diplomatic  service  of  the  United  States 
to  cooperate  with  the  army,  the  delays  incident  to  action 
through  ordinary  diplomatic  channels  were  so  great  as  to  be  a 
serious  embarrassment.  Our  diplomatic  offices  abroad  were 
not  organized  for  the  quick  transaction  of  the  entirely  new 
business  created  by  the  war.  The  demands  of  the  A.E.F. 
were  imperative,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  as  though  the  army 
would  lose  the  great  assistance  in  connection  with  its  supply 
system  inherent  in  the  possible  use  of  an  exportable  American 
surplus  of  raw  material  and  food  supplies  needed  by  neutral 
countries. 

The  G.P.A.  desires  to  state  here,  however,  that  the  above 
remarks  do  not  apply  to  the  very  efficient  and  always  active 
cooperation  of  the  Honorable  William  G.  Sharp,  American 
Ambassador  to  France,  through  whose  office,  because  of  his 
personal  juxtaposition  to  it,  the  G.P.A.  could  always  secure 
quick  service.  A  statement  was  made  by  the  G.P.A.,  and 
transmitted  by  the  C.-in-C.  to  the  Allied  Governments, 
looking  toward  a  coordination  of  effort  in  the  securing  of  sup- 
plies from  neutral  countries,  in  which  it  was  suggested  that 
the  powers  of  the  United  States  over  raw  materials  were  not 
only  valuable  when  used  for  the  benefit  of  the  American  army, 


.44  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

but  could  be  used  in  expediting  the  shipment  of  supplies  to 
the  other  AUied  countries  and  armies.  Progress,  however,  was 
slow  until  the  visit  to  France  of  Mr.  Vance  McCormick,  the 
able  Chairman  of  the  War  Trade  Board,  which  enabled  him 
to  realize  the  pressing  situation  and  to  devise  the  remedy 
therefor.  Convinced  that  the  demands  of  the  A.E.F.  in 
neutral  countries  must  be  met  immediately  and  that  the 
powers  of  the  State  Department,  if  they  were  to  be  effective, 
must  be  exercised  quickly  in  every  instance  in  order  to  effect 
that  result,  he  sent  to  France,  as  the  representative  of  the  War 
Trade  Board,  Mr.  George  McFadden,  who  arrived  in  Febru- 
ary, 191 8.  The  work  done  by  the  War  Trade  Board  at  Wash- 
ington in  conjunction  with  its  representative,  Mr.  McFadden, 
in  Paris  deserves  special  recognition  and  remark.  The  ability, 
far-sightedness,  energy,  and  courage  of  Mr.  McFadden,  thor- 
oughly supported  by  the  War  Trade  Board  in  America, 
resulted  in  the  creation  of  a  situation  by  which  the  State 
Department  could  inaugurate  immediate  economic  pressure 
upon  neutral  countries  where  there  was  a  reluctance  to  permit 
exportation  of  supplies  to  the  A.E.F.  From  the  date  of  Mr. 
McFadden's  arrival  the  G.P.A.  threw  open  to  him  the  supply 
requirements  of  the  American  army,  and  he  was  in  constant 
touch  with  his  office.  Early  familiarizing  himself  in  detail 
with  our  necessities,  he  showed  an  initiative  and  intelligence 
in  cooperation  in  our  purposes  which  brought  about  a  sur- 
prising change  in  the  attitude  of  neutral  Governments  toward 
our  requests  for  export  permits.  During  the  progress  of  the 
Argonne-Meuse  Battle,  as  an  instance  of  the  quick  action  of 
the  State  Department  through  the  War  Trade  Board  and  Mr. 
McFadden,  arrangements  for  export  permits  for  animals 
from  Spain  needed  to  take  our  artillery  into  action  were 
effected  in  a  few  days  where  formerly  weeks  would  have  been 
consumed.  The  coordination  of  the  diplomatic  service  w^hich 
the  War  Trade  Board  and  its  representative,  Mr.  McFadden, 
secured  and  the  practical  results  of  his  contact  and  coopera- 
tion with  the  A.E.F.,  will,  in  the  judgment  of  the  G.P.A. , 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  45 

constitute  hereafter  one  of  the  brilliant  chapters  in  the  history 
of  American  business  diplomacy.  His  work  in  connection  with 
our  supply  requirements  from  Switzerland  was  especially  note- 
worthy. Grateful  acknowledgment  is  made  by  the  G.P.A.  of 
the  immense  assistance  to  his  office  of  the  War  Trade  Board 
at  Washington  and  Mr.  McFadden,  its  representati\'e,  in 
France. 

Coordination  of  French,  English,  and  American  Purchases  in 
Neutral  Countries.  Under  the  direction  of  the  C.-in-C.  the 
G.P.A.  took  the  initiative  in  endeavoring  to  establish  closer 
coordination  of  the  French,  English,  and  American  purchasing 
officers  in  neutral  countries.  While  the  form  of  the  arrange- 
ments for  coordination  betu^een  the  three  allies  which  were 
afterward  made  in  the  neutral  countries  varied,  the  general 
principles  outlined  in  the  attached  letter  of  the  G.P.A.  on 
this  subject,  dated  October  19,  1917,  to  which  reference  is 
made,  were  carried  out: 

Paris,  October  31,  19 17 

From:  The  Commander-in-Chief. 

To:  General  Ragueneau,  Chairman  of  French  Mission 
with  the  American  army. 
I.  The  attached  suggestions  as  to  plan  and  general  princi- 
ples which  should  govern  the  Allies  in  consummating  an 
arrangement  for  the  centralization  and  coordination  of  Con- 
tinental purchases  for  all  commodities  have  been  drawn  by  the 
General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F.,  in  conference  with  me. 
The  plan  suggested  has  my  approval  as  a  tentative  proposi- 
tion to  be  discussed  between  the  representatives  of  the  French 
and  English  Governments  and  of  the  American  Expeditionary 
Forces. 

JoHx\  J.  Pershing 

General 

Paris,  October  19,  1917 

Suggestions  as  to  plan  and  general  principles  which  should 
govern  the  Allies  in  consummating  the  arrangement  for  the 
centralization  of  Continental  purchases  for  all  commodities. 
This  paper  represents  in  general  the  attitude  of  the  American 


46    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Expeditionary  Force  and  is  submitted  for  the  purpose  of 
comment  by  the  French  and  British  authorities. 

I.  It  is  suggested  that  in  Spain,  Italy,  and  Switzerland  all 
purchases  for  the  Allied  forces  in  France,  England,  and  the 
United  States  be  made  by  a  single  board  in  each  country 
upon  which  are  representatives  of  the  three  armies,  each 
speaking  for  all  the  branches  of  his  respective  service.  Pend- 
ing the  procuring  of  authority,  necessary  under  their  system 
of  administration,  for  one  individual  each  to  represent  the 
French  and  English  armies,  as  has  been  provided  in  the  case  of 
the  American  army,  these  purchasing  boards  may  consist  of  a 
larger  number  with  due  regard  for  equal  representation  and 
authority  for  the  three  armies.  Provision  for  the  Italian  rep- 
resentation is  to  be  made  as  soon  as  the  Italian  authorities 
can  be  consulted. 

II.  An  inter-Allied  board  consisting  of  a  representative  of 
the  French,  English,  and  American  armies  at  Paris  should 
determine  the  question  of  the  distribution  of  purchases  made 
on  joint  account  for  the  three  armies. 

III.  No  agreement  need  be  entered  into  for  the  permanent 
existence  of  these  boards,  so  that  any  Government  by  with- 
drawing can  restore  the  status  quo.  The  great  advantages, 
however,  of  coordination  and  the  relief  from  an  intolerable 
condition  of  competition  afforded  by  them  will  result  practi- 
cally in  their  continuous  existence.  This  consideration  should 
remove  any  possible  hesitation  in  connection  with  their  im- 
mediate formation. 

IV.  The  American  Expeditionary  Force  recognizes  that  in 
Continental  purchases  the  needs  of  the  French  army  and 
population  should  have  first  consideration.  The  Continental 
countries  adjoining  France  are  naturally  tributary  to  the 
French  army  and  French  population.  The  undue  diversion 
of  supplies  from  those  countries  to  the  British  and  American 
Expeditionary  Forces  might  involve  France  in  domestic  and 
civil  embarrassments  resulting  in  a  serious  lessening  of  mili- 
tary' effectiveness  and  injury  to  the  common  cause. 

V.  The  United  States,  by  reason  of  its  control  of  certain 
sources  of  supply,  notably  cotton,  is  in  a  position  through 
negotiations  as  to  embargo  to  increase  the  available  sources 
of  general  supply  for  the  Allies  from  Spain  and  Switzerland. 
These  boards  should  be  in  existence  now  as  a  means  of  aiding 
with  information  the  American  Ambassadors  to  France, 
Spain,  and  Switzerland  in  making  representations  to  the 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  47 

State  Department  as  to  the  position  they  deem  advisable  for 
the  United  States  to  take  in  connection  with  embargo  con- 
cessions. The  commanding  position  of  England  in  connection 
with  ocean  tonnage,  coal,  and  other  important  supplies  for 
the  French  and  American  Expeditionary  Force  makes  spe- 
cially important  to  her  the  common  information  which  will  be 
derived  through  the  operation  of  such  boards  and  which  will 
be  of  value  as  bearing  upon  questions  which  are  arising  and 
will  continue  to  increasingly  arise  in  connection  with  the  use 
of  inter-Allied  tonnage. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Lieutenant- Colonel,  Engineers 

General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

Origin  of  Finance  Office  of  the  A.E.F.  To  enable  it  to  make 
arrangements  for  funds  in  Europe  to  provide  for  the  payment 
of  the  expenses  and  supplies  of  the  A.E.F.,  the  representatives 
of  the  Treasury  Department  from  time  to  time  submitted 
requests  for  an  estimate  of  the  future  financial  requirements 
of  our  army.  The  system  of  army  accounts  by  separate  serv- 
ices, with  their  inevitable  differences  in  methods,  the  lack  of 
a  central  financial  organization  of  the  army  with  an  authority 
and  machinery  necessary  to  make  such  statements,  and  the 
constantly  changing  situation  in  the  requirements  of  the  army 
made  it  extremely  difficult  to  give  the  Treasury  Department 
accurate  information.  These  requests  of  the  Treasury  De- 
partment upon  the  army  were  referred  to  the  office  of  the 
G.P.A.,  and  it  endeavored  without  machinery  and  without 
authority,  relying  upon  the  general  desire  of  cooperation 
upon  the  part  of  the  chiefs  of  the  different  services,  to  render 
what  assistance  in  this  connection  was  possible  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. Lieutenant-Colonel  Cutcheon  was  very  active 
in  this  work,  and  he  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jay  were  leaders 
in  devising  the  methods  for  bettering  the  system.  It  was  the 
lack  of  such  an  organization  properly  organized  and  with 
sufficient  personnel  to  handle  the  situation  which  led  Edward 
R.  Stettinius,  Special  Representative  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
who  gave  invaluable  cooperation  in  this  connection,  and  the 


48    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

G.P.A.  to  recommend  the  formation  of  a  Financial  Section 
of  the  General  Stafif  which  would  coordinate  and  collect  the 
financial  requirements  of  the  army,  coordinate  and  simplify 
the  methods  of  accounting  in  the  separate  services,  and  pro- 
vide a  central  agency  for  their  proper  presentation  to  the 
Treasury  Department.  In  this  connection  and  as  part  of  the 
demobilization  of  his  office  as  the  war  ended  the  G.PA. 
recommended  the  transfer  of  the  Board  of  Contracts  and 
Adjustments  and  the  Bureau  of  Accounts,  both  of  which  had 
been  built  up  in  his  office,  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Chief 
Finance  Officer  provided  for  by  the  order  establishing  the 
Finance  Section  of  the  army.  The  difficulties,  however,  under 
any  circumstances  during  our  military  activities,  of  making' 
an  accurate  forecast  of  financial  requirements  extending  over 
any  period  of  time  are  self-evident.  The  large  organization  of 
the  G.P.A.  and  G.P.B.  was  constantly  in  search  of  supplies 
in  Europe,  on  account  of  insufficient  tonnage  from  America. 
Sources  of  supply  which  could  not  be  foreseen  were  constantly 
discovered,  which  could  not  have  formed  the  basis  for  an 
estimate  of  future  financial  necessities.  Additions  to,  and 
curtailments  of,  programmes,  due  to  the  military  changes 
at  the  front  and  the  general  situation  in  the  Allied  armies, 
the  changing  degree  of  availability  for  our  use  of  the  sur- 
plus stocks  of  other  armies  and  Governments,  all  combined 
to  make  any  system  of  estimate  either  of  forward  material  or 
of  financial  requirements  difficult.  However  crude  the  system 
as  devised  a  considerable  advance  was  made  in  this  connection. 
Principles  of  Army  Supply  and  Purchase.  The  experience 
of  the  A.E.F.  should  here  be  cited  as  bearing  upon  various 
propositions  which  have  been  made  for  the  abolition  of  the 
system  of  army  supply  acquirement  through  separate  serv- 
ices. The  G.P.A.  desires  to  state  that  he  believes  that  a 
central  control  of  the  situation,  through  a  system  providing 
for  purchase  by  category  and  interchange  of  stocks  between 
the  services,  can  be  made  effective  so  as  to  secure  the  benefits 
of  centralization  without  interfering  unduly  with  that  inde- 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  49 

pendent  and  continuous  functioning  of  the  separate  supply 
services  of  the  army  absolutely  essential  in  time  of  war  to 
securing  the  maximum  results.  It  must  be  remembered,  how- 
ever, that  this  is  simply  a  statement  of  principle.  It  must  not 
be  inferred  from  it  that  the  present  laws  governing  army  pur- 
chase and  supply  do  not  need  extensive  change  if  proper  prin- 
ciples of  army  supply  are  carried  out.  There  should  be  a  re- 
moval by  legislation  to  some  extent  of  the  barriers  between 
the  different  services  in  the  matter  of  common  stocks,  so  that 
the  army  may  think  in  terms  of  one  army  and  not  in  the  terms 
of  eight  watertight  compartments.  The  central  authority 
must  determine,  for  instance,  whether  a  dearth  of  certain 
material  in  the  Ordnance  Department  and  a  surplus  of  the 
same  material  in  the  Engineer  Department  makes  advisable 
the  transfer  of  a  portion  of  Engineer  stock  to  Ordnance  stock. 
Again  the  power  of  purchase  by  category  should  be  made  more 
definite.  Under  the  present  law  the  independence  of  the 
separate  ser\'ices  Is  too  rigidly  established  and  only  the  great 
emergency  of  war  and  the  cooperation  of  a  strong  C.-in-C. 
and  CO.,  S.O.S. ,  with  the  G.P.A.  could  have  produced  in  the 
A.E.F.  any  degree  of  central  coordination  and  control. 

The  G.P.A.  will  not  seek  to  outline  the  changes  of  legisla- 
tion desirable  so  to  modify  the  present  system  as  best  to 
carry  out  the  proper  principles  of  army  purchase  and  supply, 
but  because  of  the  great  importance  of  the  subject  desires  to 
incorporate  here  a  memorandum  which  he  prepared  with 
much  care  and  sent  to  you  when  you  were  Chief  of  Staff.  You 
placed  this  upon  the  War  Diary  of  the  A.E.F.  as  being  in 
agreement  with  your  own  views. 

Principles  of  Army  Purchase  and  Supply  as  suggested  by  Ex- 
perience of  American  Expeditionary  Force  in  France 

(Dictated  Feb.  23,  1918,  and  carefully  revised  March  6,  1918.  For 
insertion  in  War  Diary  of  American  Expeditionary  Force.) 

War  is  the  oldest  occupation  of  mankind,  and  the  system  of 
organization  for  war  has  been  the  result  of  evolution  for  the 
longest  period  of  any  collective  human  activity.   Therefore, 


50  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

what  seems  to  be  in  military  organization  an  anachronism 
must  always  be  considered  as  to  whether  our  regarding  it  in 
that  light  is  due  to  the  different  functioning  of  an  army  organ- 
ization in  times  of  peace  as  compared  with  a  time  of  war.  The 
current  criticism  of  army  organization  is  based  largely  upon 
the  assumption  that  it  ignores  certain  fundamental  principles 
of  normal  business  organization,  which  should  be  applied  to 
the  business  system  of  an  army  notwithstanding  the  ultimate 
purpose  of  an  army's  existence  is  military,  as  distinguished 
from  business,  success.  The  conventional  view  of  the  army 
purchase  and  supply  system,  held  by  the  non-militai-y  business 
man,  is  that  the  system  of  independent  departmental  pur- 
chase is  a  failure,  because,  while  it  is  susceptible  to  an  out- 
side coordinating  control,  this  control  is  not  accomplished, 
as  in  normal  business  organization,  by  a  complete  centraliza- 
tion of  purchase  and  supply  through  one  agency  acting  for 
the  army  as  a  whole.  The  argument  of  the  business  man  is 
that  if  ail  purchasing  and  supply  activities  were  centralized  in 
one  distinct  army  department,  created  to  supply  all  other 
branches  of  the  service,  there  would  be  obviated  competi- 
tion among  the  various  departments,  piecemeal  and  wasteful 
purchases,  loose  methods,  insufficient  estimation  of  forward 
collective  needs,  and  many  other  objections  now  incident  to 
some  extent  to  the  present  system.  It  is  contended  that  the 
needs  of  an  army  and  their  satisfaction  will  be  better  ascer- 
tained and  accomplished  by  a  central  body,  having  always  the 
bird's-eye  view  of  the  situation,  and  that  equally  satisfactory 
results  will  not  be  incident  to  any  method  of  central  control 
reached  through  a  coordination  of  independent  agencies.  It 
was  with  this  belief  that  I  took  up  my  duties  as  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Force,  under  a 
new  system  of  central  control  devised  personally  by  General 
Pershing  against  the  advice  of  a  reporting  army  board  to  whom 
the  subject  had  been  first  referred.  This  report  attached 
hereto,  with  the  comments  of  General  Pershing  thereon,  in- 
dicates clearly  the  legal  limitations  under  which  he  acted,  his 
entire  perception  of  the  business  and  military  principles  in- 
volved, and  the  final  plan  he  placed  in  operation  as  the  best 
solution  possible,  in  his  judgment,  under  existing  law,  of  the 
problem  of  reconciling  the  existing  army  and  supply  system 
with  the  fundamental  principles  of  normal  business  organiza- 
tion without  jeopardizing  its  efficiency  from  the  military 
standpoint  in  time  of  actual  war. 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  51 

I  wish  I  could  claim  a  share  in  the  conception  of  this  plan, 
but  the  General  had  worked  it  out  fully  before  I  arrived  at 
his  Headquarters  and  only  selected  me  to  put  it  into  effect, 
and  as  General  Purchasing  Agent,  American  Expeditionary 
Force,  and  Chairman,  to  assemble  the  General  Purchasing 
Board  and  direct  its  operations.  My  idea,  as  that  of  many 
other  business  men,  had  been  that  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  which  so  jealously  guarded  the  independent  right  of 
purchase  and  supply  in  departments  of  the  service,  was  on 
our  statute  books  as  a  result  of  a  lack  of  business  knowledge 
and  foresight  on  the  part  of  legislators,  instead  of  its  being,  as 
it  is,  the  logical,  legitimate,  and  necessary  evolution  of  thou- 
sands of  years  of  actual  military  experience.  Now,  after  six 
months  in  time  of  war,  in  a  peculiar  position  relative  to  army 
purchase  and  supply  activities  such  as  does  not  exist  in  the 
British,  French,  or  other  army,  so  far  as  I  know,  I  am  pre- 
pared to  say  that  any  change  in  legislation  or  War  Depart- 
ment regulation  designed  to  bring  the  organization  of  army 
purchase  and  supply  more  nearly  into  accord  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  modern  business  organization,  should  provide  an 
agency  of  supervising  coordination,  which,  while  it  will  per- 
mit the  application  of  rigid  business  principles  under  normal 
conditions,  will  not  take  away  from  independent  depart- 
ments the  right  of  purchase  and  supply  especially  during  the 
time  of  actual  military  activity,  the  preservation  of  such 
independent  powers  being  absolutely  essential  at  times  to 
military  success,  which,  of  course,  is  the  ultimate  object  of 
the  whole  system. 

The  statement  is  frequently  made  that  the  business  or- 
ganization of  an  army  is  the  same  in  its  purposes  as  the  busi- 
ness organization  of  any  great  corporation.  This  is  misleading 
The  chief  purpose  of  the  organization  of  successful  businesy 
is  the  creation  of  wealth ;  the  chief  purpose  of  the  organization 
of  any  army  is  the  destruction  of  enemy  life  and  wealth.  The 
prime  consideration  in  the  establishment  in  normal  business 
organization  of  central  control  of  purchase  is  the  surrounding 
of  purchasing  activity  with  checks  and  balances  compelling 
due  consideration  of  every  purchase  from  the  standpoint  of 
its  relation  to  a  prospective  profit  —  in  other  words,  to  com- 
pel the  deliberate  application  to  every  transaction  of  the 
test  as  to  whether,  if  consummated,  financial  profit  or  some- 
thing related  to  it  will,  immediately  or  ultimately,  be  the  re- 
sult.  The  first  purpose  of  the  army  business  organization  in 


52  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

time  of  war  is  the  securing  of  necessary  military  supplies  ir- 
respective of  any  question  of  financial  profit,  yet  as  cheaply 
and  expeditiously  as  possible  without  prejudice  to  military 
effectiveness.  If  the  application  of  all  the  principles  of  normal 
business  organization  would  mean  the  failure  of  supply  in 
military  emergency,  business  principles,  in  the  last  analysis, 
must  yield,  wherever  necessary,  to  military  emergency.  The 
principles,  however,  of  normal  business  as  affecting  army  busi- 
ness organization  can  be  made  to  apply  through  a  coordi- 
nating system  as  we  have  done  in  the  American  Expeditionary 
Force,  where  these  principles  are  applied  to  any  army  pur- 
chase or  supply  transaction  not  involving  a  preponderating 
military  necessity.  I  cannot  emphasize  too  strongly  that  for 
the  preservation  of  a  requisite  system  of  supply  for  any  army 
in  action,  the  feeling  of  responsibility  on  the  part  of  a  supply 
procuring  agent  must  be  first  to  the  ofhcers  needing  the  sup- 
ply. From  my  experience  with  the  field  system  of  army  sup- 
ply and  purchase  in  this  war,  the  only  reason  I  can  imagine 
why  anybody  suggests  the  contrary'  is  because  a  large  portion 
of  the  supplies  of  our  army  is  being  collected  by  the  War  De- 
partment in  a  country  of  large  resources  which,  when  col- 
lected, are  shipped  from  America  to  the  army  in  France. 
Business  principles  for  obvious  reasons  can  be  given  a  wider 
application  by  the  War  Department  in  the  United  States 
than  it  is  possible  to  give  to  the  purchase  and  supply  organiza- 
tion of  any  army  in  the  field.  In  the  business  organization  of 
an  army  in  the  field,  nothing  must  prevent  the  immediate 
application  of  the  greatest  possible  pressure,  directly  from 
the  point  of  military  and  emergency  need,  upon  an  agent  of 
purchase  and  supply  directly  responsible  to  it.  Therefore,  the 
central  business  control  of  purchase  and  supply  activities  of 
an  army  in  the  field,  while  operating  in  all  normal  cases,  must 
not  interfere  with  a  perfect  device  for  the  operation  of  a 
collateral  independent  system  controlled  by  military  necessity. 
Only  in  this  way  can  all  the  needs  of  an  army  in  time  of  action 
be  properly  met. 

Let  us  assume  for  purpose  of  illustration  that  the  Ameri- 
can Expeditionary  Force  in  France,  at  a  time  when  military 
operations  are  under  way,  had  an  existing  central  purchase 
and  supply  organization  for  all  departments  of  the  army 
without  there  being  in  existence  machinery  for  independent 
collection  of  supplies.  To  that  central  organization  would 
come  a  series  of  demands  which  we  might  epitomize  as  follows: 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  G.  DAVIDSON,  B.E.F. 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  53 

From  "A"  on  the  line,  two  thousand  blankets  by  night-time 
which  if  not  supplied  meant  that  soldiers  would  perish  by  ex- 
posure; from  "B,"  one  thousand  shells  for  an  expected  attack 
the  next  day;  from  "C,"  one  thousand  cots  for  wounded 
soldiers  lying  on  the  floors  of  hospitals;  from  "D,"  certain 
medicines  and  surgical  apparatus  with  available  supplies  en- 
tirely inadequate  and  wounded  still  coming  in;   from  "E," 
food  for  men  who  had  been  without  it  for  two  days.    The 
central  organization,  in  transmitting  to  its  purchasing  and 
collecting  agents  these  demands,  would  use  an  emphatic  tone 
of  voice,  but  that  tone  of  voice  would  not  be  the  same,  nor  in- 
terpreted by  the  agent  in  the  same  way,  as  the  voice  of  each 
officer  responsible  for  the  situation  at  each  point  of  necessity 
speaking  to  a  man  directly  responsible  to  him,  and  located  at 
a  point  of  possible  supply.    If  a  demand  came  for  timber  to 
build  a  bridge  necessary  to  carry  100,000  troops  across  a 
stream  for  reinforcement  of  a  sorely  pressed  army  corps, 
questions  of  the  price  to  be  paid,  or  the  manner  in  which  it 
was  to  be  secured,  would  not,  advantageously,  be  first  referred 
to  a  central  agency  for  consideration  of  the  business  bearings 
of  the  transaction.    It  is  no  reply,  in  such  a  situation,  to 
maintain  that  an  emergency  supply  and  purchase  organiza- 
tion can  be  created  for  use  in  times  of  war  which  can  function 
when  and  where  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  central  organi- 
zation to  do  so.  A  purchase  and  supply  machine,  to  function 
well,  must  function  continuously.    In  this  war  the  use  of 
troops  in  restricted  localities,  the  transportation  to  masses  of 
stationary  troops  of  large  shipments  of  supplies,  the  fact  that 
the  different  units  of  the  army,  as  a  rule,  are  not  separated  by 
long  distances  or  isolated  by  lack  of  railroad  or  other  means  of 
communication,  all  make  more  plausible  the  demand  for  the 
abolition  of  the  great  army  system  of  independent  depart- 
mental supply  and  purchase.   But  if  any  other  system  is  put 
in  its  place  which  does  not  recognize  that  the  first  responsi- 
bility of  the  supply  and  purchase  agent  must  be  directly  to 
the  responsible  officer  nearest  the  point  of  necessity,  the 
system  in  time  of  military  emergency  will  fail ;  and  the  whole 
object  of  the  military  system  is  not  to  fail  in  time  of  war.   In 
order  to  give  our  army  organization  in  France  the  benefit  as 
iar  as  possible  of  all  the  admirable  safeguards  and  advantages 
of  normal  business  organization,  and  yet  not  destroy  that 
which  is  above  all  things  important,  the  system,  which,  ir- 
respective of  business  considerations,  supplies  most  quickly 


54    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

articles  at  the  point  of  use  during  military  operations,  Gen- 
eral Pershing  originated  the  idea  of  the  General  Purchasing 
Board,  American  Expeditionary  Force,  which,  while  operating 
under  some  disadvantages,  has  applied  to  the  purchase  of 
army  supplies  in  France  the  safeguards  of  normal  business.  It 
has  insured  collective  purchasing,  prevention  of  competition, 
and  coordination  of  effort  without  interfering  with  a  principle 
firmly  established  in  legislation  and  military  procedure  as  a 
result  of  thousands  of  years  of  evolution. 

If  nothing  is  added  to  the  foregoing,  it  may  seem  to  over- 
emphasize the  relative  importance  of  independent  agencies  of 
a  controlling  central  system,  which  must  function  with  it. 
In  the  American  Expeditionary  Force  certain  large  conceded 
and  evolved  powers  of  central  control,  arising  out  of  the  ex- 
igencies of  war  and  confirmed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
are  being  exercised  by  the  General  Purchasing  Agent,  which 
powers  are  in  effect  direct  and  not  negative.  It  is  these  direct 
powers,  not  used  to  impede,  but  to  regulate,  expedite,  and 
widen  the  action  of  collateral  agencies,  which  are  largely  re- 
sponsible for  what  results  have  been  accomplished  through 
the  organization  of  the  General  Purchasing  Board. 

That  the  lessons  in  army  supply  and  purchase  taught  by 
this  war  will  find  their  future  legislative  interpretation  and 
expression,  there  is  little  question.  It  will  be  difficult  legisla- 
tion to  frame;  for  unfortunately  it  cannot  be  assumed  that  in 
the  administration  of  the  system  in  time  of  peace,  it  will  be 
characterized  by  the  high  degree  of  cooperation  and  disposi- 
tion to  subordinate  individual  interest,  which  exists  among 
the  officers  of  a  military  force  in  active  operation,  welded  to- 
gether by  the  powerful  pressure  of  military  emergency,  by 
strong  leadership,  and  the  sacredness  of  the  cause  of  their 
common  effort.  But  even  though  it  may  not  as  yet  be  possible 
to  frame  a  law  recognizing  the  principles  upheld  herein,  with- 
out creating  some  field  for  bureaucratic  dissensions  in  time  of 
peace,  yet  such  a  law  in  time  of  war  will  afford  the  competent 
leadership,  which  always  develops  on  such  an  occasion,  its 
proper  engine  of  highest  effectiveness. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

Chairman,  G.P.B.,  G.P.A.,  A.E.F. 

Conclusion.  The  activities  of  the  G.P.B.  and  the  G.P.A. 
not  only  in  the  line  of  coordination,  but   because  of  the 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  55 

machinery  created  to  supplement  the  activities  of  the  inde- 
pendent services  in  searching  out  and  accumulating  supplies  in 
Europe,  became  such  an  indispensable  element  in  the  accom- 
plishments of  the  American  army  that  the  documents  cover- 
ing General  Pershing's  original  conception,  including  his 
comments  on  the  same,  are  attached  hereto  as  an  indispensa- 
ble part  of  this  Report.  It  will  be  noted  from  these  documents 
that  the  board  of  officers  convened  to  consider  General  Per- 
shing's suggestions  recommended  against  their  adoption  and 
that  the  General  then  set  aside  the  report  of  these  officers  and 
pointed  out  their  misconception  of  his  idea  in  the  following 
words : 

Paris,  August  4,  1917 

Memorandum  for  the  A  djutant-General : 

With  reference  to  the  proceedings  of  the  board  of  officers 
convened  to  establish  a  purchasing  bureau,  the  board  ac- 
cepted too  literally  the  wording  of  the  order. 

The  idea  in  mind  was  to  create  a  central  board  consisting 
of  an  officer  representing  each  Staff  Department  which  pur- 
chases material  and  that  this  board  would  have  a  head  and  be 
able  to  coordinate  purchases,  which  would  actually  be  made 
by  an  officer  of  the  Staff  Department  itself.  It  was  not  the 
intention  to  create  a  purchasing  board  in  London  or  Paris, 
such  as  we  had  in  New  York  for  the  Panama  Canal. 

In  other  words,  it  may  be  said  that  this  committee  would 
be  simply  a  coordinating  board. 

There  are  many  purchases  being  made  by  the  Red  Cross 
and  the  Y.M.C.A.  in  France,  in  some  instances  probably  in 
competition  with  our  Staff  Departments  and  with  each  other. 
They  should  also  be  brought  under  some  sort  of  control.  The 
board  in  question  need  not  be  composed  of  officers  exclusively 
on  that  duty,  but  could  meet  occasionally  for  mutual  dis- 
cussion. 

To  A.G.  for  file.  J.  J.  P. 

The  G.O.  23,  Hq.,  A.E.F.,  1917,  establishing  the  Board  was 
issued  by  General  Pershing  on  August  20,  191 7.  On  August 
29,  191 7,  I  arrived  in  Paris  from  St.  Nazaire  where  I  had  been 
stationed  with  my  regiment,  and  after  a  conference,  the 
C.-in-C.  appointed  the  personnel  of  the  G.P.B.  on  August  30, 


56  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

making  me  the  Chairman  and  also  the  G.P.A.  of  the  A.E.F. 
The  G.P.B.  and  the  position  of  the  G.P.A.  accordingly  have 
been  peculiarly  the  conception  of  the  C.-in-C,  designed  by 
him  to  meet  what  he  recognized  as  an  overwhelming  necessity 
in  the  matter  of  supply  procurement  as  well  as  the  coordina- 
tion of  purchases. 

From  that  time  until  the  end  of  the  war,  he  gave  it  unre- 
mitting personal  attention  and  support.  The  relation  of  ton- 
nage to  success  was  ever  uppermost  in  his  mind.  Without  the 
great  power  constantly  exercised  by  the  C.-in-C.  in  assisting 
the  G.P.A.  in  his  work  of  coordinating  independent  mihtary 
authority  in  our  army,  as  well  as  in  the  relation  of  our  army 
to  the  other  armies  and  Governments,  the  accomplishments  of 
the  Board  and  the  G.P.A.  would  have  been  impossible.  The 
C.-in-C.  did  not  regard  it  as  beyond  his  dignity  to  come  many 
times  from  Chaumont  and  elsewhere  to  Paris  to  assist  the 
G.P.A.  in  supply  negotiations  with  our  allies  and  the  difficult 
task  of  coordinating  our  own  separate  services.  When  con- 
tinuing battle  occupied  him  at  the  front  he  still  maintained 
his  touch  with  our  activities,  and  the  G.P.A,  would  meet  him 
there.  The  quick  perception  upon  his  part  of  the  exigencies  of 
the  supply  situation,  the  origination  of  the  plan  to  deal  with 
it,  and  his  constant  powerful  intervention  in  carrying  it  out 
must  stand  in  history  as  the  chief  cause  of  the  substantial 
results  obtained.  In  the  beginning  of  the  operations  of  the 
G.P.A.  and  the  G.P.B.  you  [Major-General  James  G.  Har- 
bord]  were  the  Chief  of  Staff  and  so  continued  from  the  be- 
ginning in  June,  1917,  to  May,  1918.  While  this  Report  is 
made  to  you  as  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  under  whose  command  from 
July  29,  1918,  the  G.P.B.  and  G.P.A.  have  functioned,  the 
G.P.A.  desires  to  acknowledge  the  debt  which  his  organiza- 
tion and  himself  owes  to  your  constant  cooperation  and  far- 
sightedness, not  only  when  acting  as  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  but  as  the 
former  Chief  of  Staff.  What  is  said  here  of  the  attitude  of 
the  C.-in-C.  toward  this  organization  applies  also  to  yourself, 
not  only  when  Chief  of  Staff,  but  when,  after  your  brilliant 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  57 

service  in  command  of  the  Marine  Brigade  at  Belleau  Wood 
and  the  Second  Division  in  the  Soissons  offensive,  you  came 
into  your  present  place  of  heavy  responsibility  and  therefore 
directly  responsible  to  the  C.-in-C.  for  the  activities  of  this 
organization.  No  written  words  are  necessary  to  impress  upon 
your  mind  the  debt  of  gratitude  which  the  G.P.A.  feels  to- 
ward you,  but  he  cannot  refrain  from  referring  to  the  firm 
friendship  which  has  sprung  up  between  us  during  many  try- 
ing experiences.   When  the  S.O.S.  was  organized  in  March, 
1918,  and  the  Administrative  Staff  of  the  C.-in-C,  of  which 
I  was  a  member,  was  placed  under  the  direction  of  Major- 
General  Kernan,  the  first  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  he  gave  to  me  the 
same  confidence  and  cooperation  which  had  existed  in  my 
relations  to  the  C.-in-C.  and  to  yourself  as  Chief  of  Staff. 
Without   the   unlimited   support   of   higher   authority   this 
emergency  organization,  superimposed  upon  the  regular  army 
organization,  could  not  even  have  existed,  much  less  have 
succeeded.  The  chiefs  of  the  services  were  bending  under  the 
load  of  a  terrible  task.   They  were  charged  in  duty  and  by 
order  with  the  accomplishment  of  it.    Their  work  and  the 
fulfillment  of  duty  at  times  must  be  checked  and  the  success 
of  their  individual  task  placed  even  in  jeopardy,  by  the  au- 
thority of  this  central  agency  charged  with  the  duty  of  com- 
pelling subordination  of  the  needs  of  a  unit  to  the  greater 
necessity  of  the  entire  army  of  which  the  unit  was  a  part. 
Had  the  attitude  of  General  Kernan  been  different  from  that 
of  yourself  and  the  C.-in-C.  in  any  regard,  the  wide  coordi- 
nating power  created  in  the  G.P.A.  could  not  have  survived. 
So  far  from  being  lessened,  these  powers,  under  the  same  wise 
and  helpful  attitude  which  characterized  his  successful  ad- 
ministration of  the  entire  S.O.S.,  were,  if  anything,  increased 
by  General  Kernan.    As  my  former  commanding  officer  I 
desire  to  express  the  gratitude  and  admiration  which  my 
organization  and  myself  feel  toward  him.  The  fact  that  there 
existed  this  continued  confidence  of  higher  authority  in  the 
G.P.A.  and  the  G.P.B.,  which  higher  authority  was  known  by 


58    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

the  chiefs  of  the  independent  services  to  be  in  a  position  to 
realize  the  needs  of  the  common  situation,  made  it  easier  for 
them  to  accept  in  good  spirit  the  orders  for  coordination 
necessitated  by  a  common  purpose  which  were  often  at  the 
great  expense  of  programmes  originally  authorized  and  im- 
posed upon  them.  The  almost  entire  absence  of  friction 
experienced  by  the  G.PA.  in  his  relation  with  the  chiefs  of 
the  services  is  not  alone  attributable  to  the  patriotism  and 
intelligence  of  these  strong  men,  but  as  well  because  at  all 
times  they  felt  that  the  G.PA.  was  not  only  expressing  in  his 
orders  your  authority  and  that  of  the  C.-in-C,  but  what  was 
in  effect  your  best  judgment  in  a  position  where  you  could 
determine  the  relative  importance  of  the  execution  of  the 
different  programmes  of  requirements.  It  would  have  been 
too  much  to  expect  that  there  were  not  radical  differences  of 
opinion  at  times  in  connection  with  the  satisfaction  of  rela- 
tive needs,  and  as  to  the  necessity  for  sacrifice  by  the  sepa- 
rate services  made  necessary  by  the  policy  of  coordination. 
While  in  the  military  organization  it  is  not  necessary  to 
argue  with  lesser  authority  in  case  speedy  action  is  necessary, 
it  was  the  policy  of  the  G.P.A.,  as  it  has  been  the  policy  of 
yourself  and  the  C.-in-C,  to  explain  in  detail  wherever  possi- 
ble the  reason  for  the  exercise  of  arbitrary  authority.  As  a 
result  a  mutual  confidence  sprang  up  between  the  chiefs  of 
the  services  and  the  G.P.A.  and  a  spirit  of  cooperation  under 
the  great  emergency  in  which  all  were  placed,  which,  while  it 
had  its  beginning  in  arbitrary  authority,  had  its  ending  in  a 
condition  in  w^hich  it  might  almost  be  said  that  mutual  con- 
sent predominated  over  authority.  In  proportion  to  the  time 
officers  of  the  A.E.F.  remained  in  France,  the  appreciation  of 
the  fact  increased  that  the  war  was  essentially  an  inter-Allied 
war  and  not  the  war  of  any  one  army  by  itself.  The  immediate 
perception  of  the  C.-in  C.  of  this  fact,  and  the  inauguration  by 
him  of  a  policy  based  upon  it  on  the  day  he  entered  France,  is 
largely  responsible  for  the  success  of  the  A.E.F.  in  all  its  supply 
and  miUtary  operations. 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S,  59 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  G.P.B.,  the  G.P.A.,  its  Chair- 
man, made  the  statement  that  it  was  not,  except  as  he  might 
determine,  a  deliberative  body  —  that  its  organization  was 
military  and  that  it  would  act  as  ordered,  and  not  as  it  might 
decide.  The  reasons  for  this  were  obvious  and  were  stated. 
The  independent  services  were  overtaxed,  handicapped  by 
insufficient  personnel  and  confronted  by  continuous  and 
insistent  demands  for  immediate  supplies  to  enable  the 
construction  and  other  work  of  the  American  army  to  pro- 
ceed. In  the  work  of  coordination  as  a  rule  only  two  or  three 
of  the  eight  separate  departments  of  the  A.E.F.  would  be  con- 
cerned in  one  transaction.  To  consume  the  time  of  the  whole 
Board  in  the  discussion  of  those  questions  which  affected 
but  two  or  three  departments  of  it  would  have  been  imprac- 
ticable. Again,  under  the  military  organization,  "town- 
meeting"  discussions  of  necessities  and  plans  have  not  been 
found  practicable  or  effective.  At  a  later  date,  in  purchases 
under  category'  and  in  the  settlement  of  any  other  question  in 
which  each  department  had  an  interest,  the  Board  was  used 
for  deliberative  purposes. 

In  ending,  the  G.P.A.  desires  to  express  his  appreciation  of 
a  number  of  his  co-workers. 

It  was  under  the  leadership  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  N.  D. 
Jay,  Q.M.C.,  who  was  for  so  long  the  Assistant  G.P.A.  of  the 
A.E.F.,  that  the  system  of  purchases  by  category  was  worked 
out.  To  his  able  hands  was  also  entrusted  the  general  super- 
vision of  the  purchasing  agents  of  the  G.P.x'\.'s  organization  in 
Allied  and  neutral  countries.  His  services  were  invaluable. 
His  tact  and  amiability,  combined  with  firmness,  resulted  in 
his  representing  the  G.P.A.  as  principal  in  many  important 
negotiations.  As  the  direct  representative  of  the  G.P.A.  his 
constructive  and  useful  authority  found  expression  in  a  con- 
stantly improving  state  of  efficiency  on  the  part  of  all  bureaus 
and  departments  of  this  organization. 

Throughout  the  most  difficult  periods  of  the  war  the  G.P.A. 
found  in  Lieutenant-Colonel  F.  E.  Drake,  Engineers,  a  con- 


6o  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

stant  source  of  constructive  suggestion,  untiring  energy,  and 
successful  administration.  Possessed  both  of  imagination 
and  practical  business  ability,  with  a  wide  range  of  knowledge 
of  business  conditions  in  Europe,  his  career  with  the  G.P.A. 
was  a  most  creditable  and  useful  one,  for  which  the  G.P.A. 
desires  to  make  special  acknowledgment. 

To  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  C.  Roop,  Engineers,  the  present 
Assistant  G.PA.,  who  was  a  former  comrade  of  the  G.P.A. 's 
as  a  First  Lieutenant  in  the  17th  Engineers  (Railway),  and 
whose  invaluable  services  and  high  abilities  have  won  him  his 
successive  promotions,  the  G.P.A.  desires  to.  express  his  ap- 
preciation and  gratitude.  No  one  in  the  whole  organization 
has  had  a  better  grasp  of  its  principles  or  has  been  more  useful 
in  putting  them  into  practical  effect.  His  great  competency 
led  the  G.P.A.  for  a  time  to  use  him  on  his  Staff  when  the 
G.P.A.  became  the  member  of  the  M.B.A.S.  representing  the 
American  army.  From  the  beginning  to  the  present.  Colonel 
Roop  has  been  a  main  dependence  of  the  G.P.A. 

Major  George  S.  Ballard,  Q.M.C.,  the  Adjutant  of  the 
office,  rendered  most  valuable  service  throughout  almost  the 
entire  period  of  its  existence. 

Associated  with  the  office  for  the  first  few  months  as  his 
first  assistant.  Captain  T.  E.  Grafton  rendered  to  the  G.P.A. 
invaluable  service.  The  G.P.A.  benefited  greatly  by  his  con- 
structive suggestions,  and  much  of  the  firm  foundation  plan  of 
his  office  was  built  by  Captain  Grafton.  His  fine  abilities  and 
service  in  this  connection  demand  this  special  recognition. 

The  G.P.A.  desires  to  commend  the  unusual  work  done  by 
Captain  R.  H.  Cabell.  Captain  Cabell's  wide  business  ex- 
perience in  Europe,  his  executive  capacity,  and  great  energy 
were  brought  more  and  more  into  requisition  by  the  G.P.A. 
as  the  business  of  his  office  grew.  Working  in  close  liaison 
with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jay  many  very  important  matters 
and  negotiations  were  conducted  by  him. 

The  work  of  Captain  C.  E.  Carpenter,  Q.M.C.,  as  head  of 
the  Metal  Control  Bureau,  as  well  as  his  work  in  connection 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  6i 

with  the  general  affairs  of  the  office,  deserves  also  special 
notice  and  commendation.  The  long  business  experience  of 
Captain  Carpenter,  his  acquaintance  in  France,  and  his 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  metal  situation  especially  quali- 
fied him  for  his  very  important  work,  the  success  of  which  de- 
pended so  largely  upon  amicable  cooperation  with  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  French  Government. 

The  Chief  Disbursing  Officer,  A.E.F.,  Colonel  C.  E.  Stanton, 
Q.M.C.,  came  to  France  with  General  Pershing,  and  from  that 
time  to  November  i,  191 7,  was  the  only  Quartermaster  Dis- 
bursing Officer  to  make  actual  disbursements  in  France.  Dur- 
ing that  time  he  paid  all  troops  and  all  Quartermaster  bills, 
amounting  to  about  $13,500,000  and  negotiated  the  first 
official  rate  of  exchange  of  francs  5.70  per  $1.00,  which  re- 
mained in  effect  from  January,  1917,  to  September  i,  igi8. 
The  tables  of  distances  upon  which  mileage  is  paid  for  travel 
in  France  were  also  prepared  in  his  office.  Colonel  Stanton, 
while  not  a  purchasing  ofiicer,  was  nevertheless  a  member  of 
the  General  Purchasing  Board  and  gave  most  valuable  as- 
sistance to  the  Board  in  determining  what  could  be  done  in 
the  way  of  financial  arrangements  in  connection  with  the  pro- 
curement of  supplies.  In  many  cases  where  urgent  require- 
ments were  not  specifically  covered  by  appropriations.  Colonel 
Stanton  made  transfers  of  money  on  memorandum  receipts, 
on  some  of  which  there  were  many  months  of  negotiation 
before  he  could  clear  such  accounts.  The  service  of  Colonel 
Stanton  on  the  G.P.B.  was  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
Without  a  man  of  his  courage  and  sound  business  judgment  in 
his  most  important  office  of  Chief  Disbursing  Officer,  A.E.F., 
it  would  have  been  practically  impossible  for  many  depart- 
ments of  the  army  to  have  secured  the  means  with  which  to 
function.  A  man  of  narrow  mind  or  one  fearful  of  the  official 
consequences  of  honest  error  made  in  the  common  effort, 
would  have  created  a  block  upon  activities  vital  to  success. 
The  G.P.A.  cannot  over-emphasize  the  importance  of  the 
work  of  Colonel  Stanton  in  the  matter  of  courageous  and  quick 


62    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

decision  where  emergency  payments  of  money  were  required. 
While  as  a  member  of  the  G.P.B.  he  was  not  directly 
concerned  with  the  tonnage-saving  effort,  nevertheless  his 
presence  upon  the  Board  gave  him  full  information  as  to 
the  acute  situations  constantly  confronting  the  purchasing 
officers.  He  thus  gained  such  a  conception  of  the  supply 
emergency  resting  upon  the  A.E.F.  as  enabled  him  to  render  a 
degree  of  cooperation  otherwise  impossible.  The  G.P.A.  de- 
sires here  to  state  that  the  functioning  of  several  of  his 
bureaus,  notably  the  Labor  Bureau,  could  not  have  success- 
fully proceeded  had  not  a  man  of  the  high  ability  and  courage 
of  Colonel  Stanton  occupied  the  position  of  Chief  Disbursing 
Officer  of  the  A.E.F. 

During  the  first  six  months  of  the  organization  of  the 
G.P.B.,  Colonel  James  A.  Logan,  Jr.,  was  Assistant  Chief  of 
Staff,  G-i,  General  Headquarters,  which  Staff  section  was 
concerned  in  the  matter  of  tonnage  and  shipment  priorities 
from  the  United  States.  Being  thus  in  first  contact  with  the 
shortage  of  shipping,  the  mind  of  Colonel  Logan  turned 
naturally  to  efforts  to  create  and  expedite  all  methods  by 
which  the  A.E.F.  could  be  supplied  in  France  and  tonnage 
saved  across  the  Atlantic.  The  G.P.A.  was  frequently  in  re- 
ceipt of  suggestions  from  this  able  and  resourceful  officer, 
and  in  many  cases  Colonel  Logan  himself  originated  and  fol- 
lowed up  plans  which  resulted  in  the  saving  of  heavy  tonnage. 
Particularly  was  this  true  in  connection  with  the  horse  supply 
of  the  A.E.F.  During  the  time  that  Colonel  Logan  was  As- 
sistant Chief  of  Staff,  G-i,  his  great  ability,  his  kindliness  of 
spirit,  and  consideration  shown  this  organization  make  this 
inadequate  recognition  of  them  in  this  Report  a  matter  of  first 
duty. 

Brigadier-General  Harry  E.  Wilkins,  Chief  Purchasing 
Officer,  Q.M.C.,  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
G.P.B.  with  whom  the  G.P.A.  was  closely  associated  in  the 
early  and  trying  days  of  the  formation  of  the  Board.  His 
great  energy  and  ability  in  supply  procurement  and  kindness 


t 


COLONEL  JAMES  A.  LOGAN 
Assistant  Chief  of  Staff,  G-i,  General  Headquarters 


B:  REPORT  TO  C.G.,  S.O.S.  63 

and  consideration  in  the  treatment  of  his  colleagues  will  ever 
be  remembered. 

Brigadier-General  C.  R.  Krauthoff,  Q.M.C.,  is  an  officer 
whose  cooperation,  constructive  suggestions,  and  sympathy 
with  the  efforts  of  the  G.P.A.  to  establish  the  general  coordi- 
nating and  business  system  in  the  A.E.F.,  demand  acknowl- 
edgment. The  long,  successful,  and  honorable  career  of  this 
officer  in  the  army  had  given  him  an  experience  which  made 
his  advice  and  guidance  invaluable. 

Colonel  T.  H.  Jackson,  Chief  Purchasing  Officer,  Engineer 
Corps,  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  G.P.B.  The 
wonderful  energy,  ability,  and  success  of  Colonel  Jackson  in 
the  procurement  of  immense  amounts  of  engineer  material 
at  a  period  when  the  construction  requirements  of  the  A.E.F. 
were  at  their  most  acute  crisis  entitle  him  to  the  gratitude  of 
every  American. 

Colonel  E.  D.  Bricker,  Chief  Purchasing  Officer,  Ordnance, 
was  recommended  by  the  G.P.A.  as  his  probable  successor  at 
a  time  when  the  duties  of  the  G.P.A.  as  a  member  of  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  seemed  likely  to  demand  his 
entire  time.  The  business  ability,  energy,  and  talent  for  or- 
ganization of  Colonel  E.  D.  Bricker  demand  special  mention. 

Colonel  C.  McD.  Townsend,  Chief  Purchasing  Officer, 
Engineer  Corps,  an  officer  of  great  experience  and  high  pro- 
fessional and  military  standing,  succeeded  Colonel  Jackson 
as  a  member  of  the  G.P.B.  The  breadth  of  view  and  sound 
judgment  of  Colonel  Townsend  in  this  important  place  made 
him  an  invaluable  cooperator  with  the  G.P.A.,  who  conducted 
the  important  activities  of  the  Labor  Bureau  largely  through 
the  financial  machinery  of  Colonel  Townsend's  office  with 
his  cooperation. 

Among  those  deserving  special  mention  are  the  purchasing 
agents  in  other  Allied  and  neutral  countries  as  follows: 

Purchasing  Agent  for  Great  Britain: 

Captain,  Major  J.  E.  Dunning;  succeeded  by 

Lieutenant-Colonel  H.  M.  Byllesby;  succeeded  by 


64    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Brigadier-General  C.  R.  Krauthoff;    succeeded  by 
Captain  W.  D.  Cramp  ton. 

Purchasing  Agent  for  Spain : 

Captain  E.  L.  Sanborn ;  succeeded  by 

Captain  Aug.  de  Zavala. 

Purchasing  Agent  for  Switzerland : 
Mr.  Harold  F.  McCormick;  succeeded  by 

Captain  D.  F.  McPherson;  succeeded  by 

Captain  J.  C.  Sims. 

Purchasing  Agent  for  Italy: 

Captain  J.  C.  Mechem;  succeeded  by 

Captain  E.  S.  Cook. 
Purchasing  Agent  for  Portugal: 

Captain  W.  W.  Dyar. 

Major  Philip  M,  Lydig  was  the  American  liaison  officer 
between  the  G.P.A.  and  the  G.P.B.  of  the  A.E.F.  and  Con- 
troleur  Peria  of  the  French  Treasury.  In  this  connection  I 
quote  from  a  letter  from  General  Alembert  of  the  French 
army. 

On  this  occasion  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  more 
and  more  important  role  taken  by  the  liaison  officers  of  the 
American  army  in  their  collaboration  with  our  services.  I 
am  happy  to  express  to  you  in  particular  to  what  degree  I 
appreciate  the  useful  help  of  Major  Philip  M.  Lydig  given  for 
the  Service  Franco-Americain  of  the  Direction  du  Controle. 

To  any  one  coming  in  contact  with  his  office  from  its  be- 
ginning to  its  end  and  meeting  Lieutenant  Francis  J.  Kil- 
kenny, Q.M.C.,  and  Lieutenant  Dalton  H.  Mulloney,  En- 
gineers, words  of  appreciation  for  their  energy,  tact,  kindness, 
and  efficiency  would  be  superfluous.  They  have  served  the 
G.P.A.  in  many  responsible  capacities  with  untiring  faith- 
fulness and  efficiency  and  in  this  appreciation  of  them  he 
speaks  for  his  entire  organization. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Brigadier-General,  Engineers 


APPENDIX  C 
DAILY  REPORTS 

OF 

THE  GENERAL  PURCHASING  AGENT 

TO 

COMMANDING  GENERAL,  SERVICE  OF  SUPPLY 

AMERICAN  EXPEDITIONARY  FORCES 

March-December,  191 8 


APPENDIX  C 

Headquarters,  Service  of  the  Rear 

March  9,  1918 
From :     C.  of  S. 
To:         G.P.A. 
Subject :  Report  of  operations. 

I.  The  C.G.  would  like  to  have  you  submit  to  these  Head- 
quarters daily  a  short  statement  of  your  principal  operations 
of  the  preceding  day.  The  purpose  of  this  is  to  keep  these 
Headquarters  in  better  touch  with  your  work. 

2.  In  order  to  get  the  matter  started,  however,  your  first 
statement  should  be  somewhat  longer  than  the  subsequent 
ones  and  should  include  a  description  of  the  main  topics  which 
you  now  have  under  consideration  and  their  present  state  of 
accomplishment.  Subsequently  a  single  page  or  a  couple  of 
pages  of  letter-sized  paper  should  be  sufficient  to  include  the 
character  of  the  report  desired. 

Johnson  Hagood 

March  11,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      Colonel  Johnson  Hagood,  Chief  of  Staff,  S.O.R. 

Answering  your  letter  of  March  q,  asking  for  a  short  state- 
ment of  the  principal  operations  of  the  preceding  day,  I  am 
assuming  this  order  means  what  it  says  and  that  it  refers  to 
the  activities  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent.  It  would  be 
manifestly  difficult  to  take  up  the  operations  of  the  different 
bureaus  operating  under  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  in 
detail  and  I  will  assume  that  what  the  Commanding  General 
desires  is  a  bird's-eye  view  of  our  operations.  The  way  I  have 
attempted  to  do  this  in  the  past,  and  shall  continue  to  do,  is 
on  important  matters  to  send  correspondence  to  the  Com- 


70    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

and  the  consideration  of  the  expediting  of  shipments  of  Span- 
ish and  Swiss  supphes  and  the  securing  of  export  permits  for 
the  same. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  13,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Service  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  12: 

1.  Conference  with  General  Langfitt. 

2.  Discussion  with  all  officers  now  in  Paris  connected  with 
the  Labor  Bureau  as  to  method  of  procedure. 

3.  Conference  with  representative  of  War  Trade  Board 
relative  to  export  permits  from  Switzerland  and  cooperation 
of  War  Trade  Board  in  securing  supplies. 

4.  Conference  with  Commander-in-Chief  on  matter  of 
securing  an  allotment  of  labor  from  the  B.E.F.  I  have  now 
four  points  of  pressure  in  this  situation:  (a)  Northcliffe  Mis- 
sion, which  is  taking  matter  up  with  British  Government, 
which  in  turn  is  taking  matter  up  with  French  Government, 
reinforced  by  letter  from  Commander-in-Chief  to  North- 
cliffe ;  (b)  negotiations  through  Brigadier-General  Carter  and 
Colonel  Maud  with  General  Forbes  and  General  Clarke 
directly  in  charge  of  civilian  labor  for  B.E.F. ;  (c)  negotiations 
with  Sir  Charles  Ellis,  British  Minister  of  Munitions  at  Ver- 
sailles, who  has  taken  the  matter  up  with  Versailles  Council 
and  promises  cooperation;  (d)  agreement  of  Commander-in- 
Chief  that  when  on  his  present  tour  of  inspection  with 
Secretary  of  War  he  will  after  ascertaining  the  situation  from 
General  Forbes  at  G.H.Q.,  B.E.F.,  make  personal  request  of 
General  Haig  for  British  labor.  Am  making  request  for  allot- 
ment five  to  ten  thousand  civilian  labor  at  present  employed 
by  British. 

5.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  Major 
Perkins,  head  of  the  Red  Cross,  resulting  in  orders  asked  by 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  71 

wire  detailing  Captain  F.  W.  M.  Cutcheon  to  present  request 
for  thirty  thousand  militarized  laborers  for  A.E.F.  to  Italian 
Government. 

6.  Started  investigation  of  merits  of  powdered  milk,  a  sub- 
stitute for  milk,  which  can  be  obtained  in  Switzerland. 

7.  Another  boatload  of  ties  shipped  from  Spain. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  14,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Service  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  13: 

I.  In  conference  with  Mr.  George  McFadden,  representa- 
tive of  the  War  Trade  Board,  in  connection  with  expediting 
shipments  from  Switzerland  and  considering  the  method  of 
cooperation  between  the  several  representatives  of  the  civil 
branches  of  the  Government  stationed  here  and  the  A.E.F. 
This  matter  had  been  the  subject  of  a  previous  conference 
between  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  myself,  as  I  had  sub- 
mitted to  the  Commander-in-Chief  a  letter  jointly  prepared  by 
Secretary  Crosby  and  Mr.  McFadden  asking  his  views  on  a 
consolidation  and  coordination  of  their  activities.  After  this 
conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  I  told  McFadden 
that  it  was  my  impression  that  he  looked  in  a  general  way  with 
favor  upon  their  proposal  to  further  consolidate  their  methods 
of  cooperation  and  communication  with  the  A.E.F.,  but  he  did 
not  look  with  favor  on  such  a  participation  therein  with  the 
A.E.F.  as  would  tend  to  interfere  with  its  present  methods  of 
functioning  as  an  entirely  independent  organization.  This 
referred  to  suggestions  that  the  G.P.A.  become  a  member  of 
their  organization  as  representing  the  A.E.F.  I  told  McFad- 
den that  the  A.E.F.  would  welcome  and  expedite  in  every  way 
their  efforts  to  bring  to  its  assistance  the  powerful  aid  of  the 
civil  branches  of  the  Government,  but  that  the  method  of 
communicating  their  information  as  to  supplies  and  other 


72    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

suggestions  would  be  to  submit  them  to  this  office  for  action 
to  be  taken  by  our  army  organization  in  the  usual  manner; 
that  so  far  as  the  organization  of  the  War  Trade  Board  in 
other  countries  was  concerned,  the  method  of  cooperation 
between  their  organization  and  ours  would  be  through  con- 
sultation of  McFadden  and  myself,  subject  to  the  super- 
vision of  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  and  after  my  determination  of 
the  policy  to  be  pursued  instructions  would  be  given  by 
McFadden  to  his  representatives  outlining  the  method  of 
cooperation  advised  by  us.  This  is  a  general  statement,  but 
sufficient  to  give  you  the  position  taken,  with  which  McFad- 
den agreed. 

2.  Various  actions  and  conferences  in  connection  with 
labor  matters  with  Colonel  Maud,  of  the  B.E.F. :  Captain 
Cutcheon's  trip  to  Italy;  the  carrying  out  of  instructions 
received  from  Headquarters  in  connection  with  the  expediting 
of  delivery  of  steel  at  St.  Nazaire;  purchasing  of  cars  at  La 
Pallice;  requisitioning  of  Elysee  Palace  Hotel,  etc. 

3.  Conference  held  with  Commander  Conger,  of  the  navy, 
resulting  in  telegram  being  sent  to  you  for  General  Patrick 
which  is  self-explanatory.  I  opened  up  the  subject  with  him 
of  securing  labor  from  the  navy  for  the  army.  I  do  not  believe 
we  can  furnish  lumber  to  keep  all  the  four  thousand  laborers 
referred  to  in  my  telegram  busy,  and  under  these  circum- 
stances the  navy  might  assign  a  portion  of  this  labor  tem- 
porarily to  the  army,  coordination  being  the  order  of  the  day. 
Ihave  wired  you  in  reference  to  this. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  14,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Service  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  14: 

I.  Conference  on  wood  situation  in  France  and  Switzerland ; 
preparation  and  transmission  of  letter  relative  to  same  to 


BRIGADIER-GENER.\L  HARRY  WILKINS 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  73 

French  Mission.  Consideration  of  collective  needs  of  army 
service  during  the  next  six  months.  In  connection  with  the 
latter,  request  has  been  received  from  General  Headquarters 
for  an  estimate  of  the  amount  of  tonnage  to  be  purchased  in 
Europe  during  the  next  six  months  for  consideration  by  War 
Department  in  connection  with  allocation  of  shipping.  This 
is  a  difificult  task. 

2.  Conference  with  Transportation  Department  in  con- 
nection with  expediting  business.  Colonel  Bunting,  of  Trans- 
portation Department,  calls  each  day  at  this  office  in  this 
connection. 

3.  Conference  on  paper  supply,  resulting  in  transmission  to 
General  Headquarters  of  letter  relative  to  pressure  of  situa- 
tion and  necessity  for  limitation  of  any  unconsidered  de- 
mands, copy  of  which  has  been  forwarded  to  you. 

4.  Routine  matters  of  administration  connected  with 
English  Purchasing  Branch;  arrangements  for  institution  of 
separate  purchasing  agency  in  Italy. 

5.  Consideration  of  question  of  forest  replacement  con- 
cerning which  copies  of  letters  mailed  to  you  to-day.  Con- 
ference with  French  Mission  regarding  additional  special  al- 
lotment of  lumber  in  connection  with  request  of  navy  for  two 
million  feet  for  hangars  necessary  to  their  plans  for  seaplane 
protection  of  incoming  American  tonnage  at  French  ports. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A, 

March  15,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Service  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  15: 

I.  At  final  conference  with  McFadden,  of  War  Trade 
Board,  Drelsel,  representative  in  Switzerland  of  War  Trade 
Board,  and  McCormIck,  coordinator  of  purchases,  A.E.F. ,  in 
Switzerland,  agreement  was  made  as  to  relations  of  purchas- 
ing agency  of   A.E.F.  with  American  Embassy  and  War 


74    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Trade  Board.  Under  the  method  outlined  by  State  Depart- 
ment our  negotiations  for  export  permits  will  hereafter  be 
with  Dreisel,  who  will  take  the  matter  up  as  representing  the 
State  Department  and  the  A.E.F.  with  the  Swiss  Govern- 
ment. 

2.  Agreement  with  the  Inter-Allied  Committee  on  Wood 
Purchases  that  in  the  matter  of  railroad  ties  from  Portugal 
the  division  shall  be  forty  per  cent  to  A.E.F.,  forty  per  cent 
to  French,  and  twenty  per  cent  to  British.  We  also  secured 
agreement  that  if  the  French  do  not  have  transportation  for 
their  portion  of  the  ties,  such  ties,  in  addition  to  the  forty  per 
cent,  as  could  be  transported  by  our  boats,  should  go  to  the 
A.E.F. 

3.  Matter  of  hangars  for  navy  seaplanes,  account  protec- 
tion incoming  American  tonnage,  again  taken  up  in  pur- 
suance of  telegram  from  C.G.,  S.O.S. 

4.  Conference  on  labor  situation.  Conference  with  Colonel 
Maud  in  connection  with  letter  from  Sir  Charles  Ellis,  British 
Minister  of  Munitions  at  Versailles,  resulting  in  letter  to 
Chief  of  Staff,  A.E.F.,  copy  of  which  is  hereto  attached  for 
information  of  C.G.,  S.O.S. 

5.  Various  routine  matters  connected  with  current  admin- 
istration of  ofhce. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  17,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Service  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  16: 

I.  Considered  arrangements  relative  to  rate  of  pay  for  best 
class  of  Spanish  labor.  French  informally  approve  rate  re- 
quested which  they  had  heretofore  declined.  Consideration  of 
the  method  of  payment  which  provides  for  a  portion  of  the 
wages  to  be  paid  to  the  families  of  laborers  taken  up.  This 
method  will  be  submitted  for  approval  to  the  Chief  of  Engi- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  75 

neers.  We  shall  to-morrow  submit  plan  to  Colonel  Townsend 
and  he  will  refer  it  to  Chief  Engineer  Officer.  I  call  attention 
to  this,  as  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  have  the  matter  ex- 
pedited in  every  way  so  that  we  can  start  to  import  Spanish 
labor.  We  shall  make  careful  study  of  the  method  of  pay- 
ment before  submitting  same  for  approval.  Conferences  had 
to  expedite  lumber  supplies,  also  of  labor. 

2.  Conference  with  navy  official  relative  to  lumber,  in  which 
were  considered  suggestions  of  CO.,  S.O.S.,  and  Colonel 
Connor,  those  of  the  latter  being  contained  in  telegram 
No.  276,  copy  of  which  is  attached  hereto. 

3.  Various  routine  duties  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  18,  191 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  17 
and  18: 

1.  Conference  with  French  authorities  on  questions  of  rate 
of  wages  to  be  paid  civilian  labor;  also  as  to  the  advisability 
of  making  request  upon  French  Government  for  assignment 
of  fifty  thousand  non-combatant  troops  to  the  A.E.F.  for 
labor  purposes,  which  resulted  in  telegram  to  Commander-in- 
Chief  repeated  for  your  information. 

2.  Day  chiefly  given  to  consideration  of  labor  matters  and 
preparation  of  correspondence  and  papers  to  be  transmitted 
to  the  S.O.S.,  which  therefore  makes  further  detail  in  this  re- 
port unnecessary.  Attention  of  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  called  by  tele- 
gram to  the  arrangements  closed  as  to  method  of  payment  of 
Spanish  labor. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  E?igineers,  N.A. 


76  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

March  19,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  19: 

1.  Commander-in-Chief,  in  the  course  of  a  telephone  mes- 
sage to  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  reassuring  the  appre- 
hensions aroused  in  the  breast  of  the  latter  by  a  cable  request 
from  a  civil  branch  of  the  Government  for  his  services  in 
America,  impressed  upon  the  G.PA.  the  great  necessity  of  se- 
curing labor.  The  G.P.A.  informed  the  Commander-in-Chief 
that  if  there  was  any  failure  in  the  securing  of  a  supply  of 
labor,  which  in  his  judgment  there  would  not  be,  it  would  be 
the  fault  of  the  G.PA.,  as  every  possible  assistance  and  coop- 
eration was  being  given  his  organization  and  him  by  every- 
body. The  G.P.A.  requests  approval  by  General  Patrick  of 
the  method  of  payment  for  Spanish  labor  referred  to  in  the 
memorandum  prepared  for  Colonel  Townsend  and  mailed  to 
you  yesterday  and  earliest  possible  notification  of  his  deci- 
sion. 

2.  Conferences  with  the  French  Government  on  very  im- 
portant telegram  from  Captain  Cutcheon  in  Rome,  relative  to 
mission  of  himself  and  Secretary  Crosby,  transmitted  through 
the  American  Ambassador  to  Rome.  This  cablegram,  to- 
gether with  copy  of  reply  still  to  be  formulated,  will  be 
transmitted  to-morrow.  It  is  well  to  state  here  to  the  C.G., 
S.O.S.,  that  Captain  Cutcheon  and  Secretary  Crosby,  in  ac- 
cordance with  his  instructions,  are  working  in  conference 
with  and  under  the  direction  of  the  American  Ambassador 
to  Italy. 

3.  Conference  on  wages  to  be  paid  by  contractors  on 
American  army  work  for  labor  in  Spain,  which  resulted  in 
telegraphic  request  for  orders  from  C.G.,  S.O.S. 

4.  Conference  with  representativ^es  of  French  Government 
in  connection  with  a  final  settlement  of  the  method  of  han- 
dling wood  supply  of  France.   Additional  conferences  on  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  77 

same  subject  will  be  had  with  General  Chevalier  at  my  office 
to-morrow. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  20,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  20: 

I.  Important  conference  held  at  office  of  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  this  morning,  at  which  were  present  General 
Chevalier,  in  charge  of  the  wood  situation  in  France,  Com- 
mandant Herbillion  and  others  of  his  Staff,  Commandant 
Varaigne,  of  the  French  Mission  attached  to  the  General 
Purchasing  Board,  and  Captain  Didion  of  the  same.  Captain 
Moore,  Captain  Jay,  and  myself,  which  resulted  as  wired  you 
in  an  agreement  on  part  of  the  French  to  give  us  such  of  their 
present  stock  in  lumber  as  they  are  unable  to  transport  by 
railroad  and  we  are  able  to  transport  by  motor.  What  addi- 
tion this  will  mean  to  our  supply  must  be  determined  by  con- 
ference with  the  Motor  Supply  Department,  which  I  have 
asked  for.  I  also  arranged  to  put  General  Chevalier  and  the 
French  officials  in  contact  with  Mr.  McFadden,  of  the  War 
Trade  Board,  in  the  hope  that  through  the  State  Department 
economic  pressure  may  be  exerted  to  end  the  present  im- 
passe in  connection  with  the  furnishing  of  lumber  by  the  Swiss 
Government  to  the  Inter-Allied  Wood  Committee.  The 
French  desire  to  close  the  frontier  and  stop  shipments  of  Swiss 
lumber  until  the  Swiss  diminish  their  demand  as  to  prices. 
The  General  Purchasing  Agent  is,  of  course,  very  anxious  to 
avoid  such  a  situation.  He  has  stated  to  General  Chevalier 
that  he  must  receive  orders  from  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  before 
consenting  on  the  part  of  the  A.E.F,  to  a  closing  of  the  bor- 
der. He  is  in  hopes,  however,  that  the  cooperation  of  the 
State  Department  of  the  United  States  through  Mr.  Mc- 
Fadden may  be  of  some  assistance  at  this  juncture.   He  has 


78    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

already  solicited  the  intervention  of  the  War  Trade  Board  in 
connection  with  securing  export  permits  from  the  Swiss  Gov- 
ernment for  the  refrigerator  cars  recently  purchased  there, 
and  the  wood  situation  becomes  naturally  a  part  of  the  eco- 
nomic negotiations  now  in  progress  between  the  War  Trade 
Board  and  the  Swiss  Government  in  cooperation  with  the 
A.E.F. 

2.  At  a  conference  with  General  Patrick,  who  called  at  his 
office,  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  was  notified  that  the 
present  rate  at  which  he  is  supplying  labor  is  sufficient  for 
the  needs  of  the  A.E.F.  As  the  flow  of  labor  in  prospect  will 
very  greatly  increase,  General  Patrick  will  give  the  situation 
his  usual  energetic  and  competent  attention.  Conferences 
were  had  with  the  French  authorities  and  with  the  Assistant 
Comptroller  of  the  Treasury  Department  with  reference  to 
method  of  payment  of  labor,  results  of  which  will  be  com- 
municated to  you. 

3.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  feels  much  encouraged 
relative  to  the  spirit  of  cooperation  manifested  by  the  officials 
of  the  French  Government  representing  wood  control.  He 
notes  the  extremely  efficient  participation  of  Commandant 
Varaigne,  of  the  French  Mission,  at  these  offices,  in  the  con- 
ference. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  21,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  21 : 

I.  At  conference  with  Commander  Conger,  of  the  navy, 
informed  him  of  the  lumber  concession  which  we  had  the  day 
before  secured  from  the  French  by  which  we  can  furnish  the 
navy  with  the  lumber  for  the  hangars  necessary  to  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  sea  aeroplane  patrol  for  the  protection  of 
tonnage  without  depleting  our  army  supply,  as  we  were  pre- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  79 

paring  to  do.  Commander  Conger  stated,  as  wired,  that  the 
navy  has  the  motors  to  transport  the  lumber.  I  put  him  into 
communication  with  General  Chevalier  through  Captain 
Moore.  Conger  will  send  a  navy  officer  to  inspect  lumber  and 
start  operations. 

2.  Secured  approval  of  Assistant  Comptroller  Ginn  as  to 
method  of  payment  of  Spanish  labor,  concerning  which  I 
made  request  for  orders  by  wire.  Much  of  day  spent  in 
connection  with  consideration  of  labor  situation  concerning 
which  I  sent  the  various  telegrams  to  you  and  the  General 
Staff  which  are  self-explanatory.  Strongly  feel,  as  I  have  no 
doubt  you  do,  that  the  solution  of  labor  situation  lies  in  the 
increase  of  facilities  for  handling  labor  rather  than  in  de- 
creasing our  efforts  to  secure  it.  It  was  to  emphasize  this  view 
that  I  asked  Captain  Estes  to  inform  General  Patrick  of  the 
situation  as  to  quarters  to  be  rented  which  he  found  on  his 
various  trips  relative  to  labor.  Strongly  urge  the  necessity  for 
immediate  detail  to  us  of  one  commissioned  officer  and  fifteen 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  for  every  two  hundred 
and  fifty  laborers  which  we  collect. 

3.  Routine  of  administration  of  office,  if  anything  in  this 
business  can  be  called  routine. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  23,  191 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  22 : 

1.  Important  conference  in  wood  matter  with  Commander 
Conger,  of  the  navy,  over  arrangement  for  securing  hangar 
requirements  from  French  stock. 

2.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  Chad- 
bourne,  from  Madrid,  and  Harrell,  from  Barcelona,  attached 
to  War  Trade  Board,  in  connection  with  the  handling  of  our 
Spanish  business.  Agreed  on  form  of  instructions  to  our  pur- 


8o    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

chasing  organization  in  connection  with  securing  of  export 
permits  from  Spain. 

3.  Two  important  conferences  with  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  in  connection  with  the  ItaHan  labor  situation.  We 
decided,  after  consideration  of  the  letters  of  Captain  Cutcheon 
and  Ambassador  Page,  copies  of  which  were  sent  you,  that  I 
had  better  prepare  a  cable  to  Secretary  McAdoo  suggesting 
consultation  between  the  State  and  Treasury  Departments 
and  the  issue  of  instructions  to  Ambassador  Page  and  Crosby 
not  to  make  the  Government  loan  of  thirty  million  dollars  to 
Italy  unless  they  agreed  to  furnish  at  least  fifteen  thousand 
militarized  laborers  under  the  same  terms  as  they  have  fur- 
nished o\'er  one  hundred  thousand  militarized  laborers  to 
France.  The  Commander-in-Chief  then  prepared  a  cable  en- 
dorsing this  recommendation  and  will  transmit  the  two  from 
General  Headquarters  to-day.  In  the  meantime,  fearing 
that  Crosby  might  close  his  negotiations  and  thus  lose  our 
trading  asset,  I  wired  him  with  approval  of  Commander-in- 
Chief  suggesting  that  he  hold  negotiations  in  statu  quo. 

4.  Intermittent  bombardment  all  day  on  labor  situation  to 
which  we  are  endeavoring  to  give  energetic  treatment  and  of 
which  we  keep  your  Staff  fully  informed  by  wire. 

Charles  G.  Daw-es 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  24,  1918 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  23: 

1.  Conference  with  Colonel  Winter,  of  Motor  Transport 
Service.  Arranged  for  conference  between  him  and  General 
Chevalier. 

2.  In  consultation  regarding  matters  of  Labor  Bureau  to 
which  chief  work  of  the  day  was  devoted. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A, 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  NELSON  D.   JAY 
Assistant  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  8i 

March  25,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  24 : 

Day  given  to  conferences  and  organization  work  of  Labor 
Bureau;  also  question  of  expediting  requisition  system  on 
French.  In  this  latter  connection  have  written  you  enclosing 
correspondence  for  consideration  of  the  Staff  in  connection 
with  suggested  instructions  to  heads  of  bureaus.  Considera- 
tion of  Spanish  supply  situation  and  requisition  methods  in 
England;  also  machine  tool  situation  in  England,  and  matter 
of  shipment  of  tin  plate  from  Switzerland  to  be  used  for  trans- 
porting condensed  milk  for  the  A.E.F. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  25,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  25 : 

1.  Conference  with  Major  Hamilton,  General  Staff,  in 
connection  with  letter  of  George  McFadden,  representative 
War  Trade  Board,  suggesting  consolidation  in  representation 
of  United  States  civil  departments  of  the  Government  in 
France.  Commander-in-Chief  has  referred  this  letter  to  the 
Administrative  Section  of  the  General  Staff  whose  conclusions 
coincide  with  those  expressed  to  me  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  at  the  time. 

2.  Conference  with  Chadbourne,  representative  in  Spain 
for  War  Trade  Board,  in  connection  with  Spanish  situation. 

3.  Conference  with  Commandant  Varaigne  and  Captain 
Moore  on  lumber  situation,  resulting  in  telegram  to  you  on 
this  matter. 

4.  Conferences  with  labor  organization,  to  which  work 
major  part  of  the  day  was  devoted.   We  are  endeavoring  to 


82  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

speed  up  preparations  for  flow  of  labor  which  need  stimula- 
tion in  order  to  keep  up  with  our  collecting  activities. 

5.  Conference  with  Colonel  H.  F.  Rethers,  of  the  London 
Purchasing  Organization,  as  to  requisition  system  upon  the 
British  and  the  securing  of  supplies  for  the  A.E.F.  in  England 
including  matter  of  deliveries. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  26,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  26 : 

1.  In  the  evening,  after  submitting  report  of  activities  on 
March  25,  I  received  notice  from  the  French  Government 
relative  to  the  forty  thousand  militarized  laborers  concerning 
which  I  wired  you  and  this  morning  telephoned  Colonel 
Hagood,  Whether  we  get  this  labor  or  not  depends  upon  the 
outcome  on  the  Western  Front.  The  preparations  made  for 
its  reception,  if  received,  can  be  utilized  later  by  labor  se- 
cured in  the  ordinary  course  if  this  emergency  supply  is  not 
received.  The  French  desire  this  matter  kept  very  confidential 
because  of  the  inferences  which  may  be  drawn.  If  we  receive 
it,  it  means  the  loss  by  bombardment  of  a  very  important 
section  of  French  territory. 

2 .  Spent  the  day  largely  in  connection  with  devising  methods 
of  meeting  labor  emergency,  as  per  wires  to  your  Headquar- 
ters, etc. 

3.  Forw^arded  to  you  new  General  Order  No.  5  to  take 
place  of  old  General  Order  No.  5,  if  approved  by  you.  This 
relates  to  the  lumber  situation.  Called  attention  by  wire  to 
fact  that  General  Patrick,  responsible  for  matters  of  lumber, 
has  not  received  very  important  telegrams  relating  to  en- 
tire lumber  supply  of  France  which  have  been  sent  by  me 
to  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  during  last  few  days  and  to  which  General 
Order  No.  5  relates.    This  information  came  from  Major 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  83 

Greeley  and  led  to  my  telegram  to  Colonel  Hagood  on  the 
subject. 

4.  Conference  with  Commandant  Varaigne,  of  French 
Mission,  regarding  labor  situation.  After  the  time  of  sending 
my  yesterday's  report  of  activities  to  you  I  took  up  with  Chief 
Statistician  consideration  of  estimate  of  amount  of  material 
which  we  can  secure  during  next  six  months  in  Europe  to  be 
forwarded  to  General  Staff  as  per  Colonel  Logan's  request  in 
connection  with  their  determination  of  tonnage  requisition 
problems. 

5.  Conference  with  Engineer  Department  at  which  final 
arrangement  arrived  at  for  payment  of  laborers  from  Spain. 
Disbursing  ofificer  leaves  for  Spain  to-night.  Our  labor  repre- 
sentative is  already  there. 

6.  Shall  have  conference  this  evening  with  Loree,  represent- 
ative of  Crosby,  in  connection  with  our  demand  upon  the 
Italian  Government  for  labor.  I  attach  to  this  report  con- 
fidential copy  of  the  cablegram  sent  by  General  Pershing  and 
myself  to  the  War  Department,  for  transmission  to  State  and 
Treasury  Departments,  making  certain  strong  recommenda- 
tions. Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  28,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  27: 

I.  Day  spent  chiefly  in  connection  with  details  and  plans 
of  labor  organization.  Important  conference  held  with  the 
French  Minister  of  Mines  at  War  Office,  at  which  general  un- 
derstanding was  reached  as  to  the  method  of  handling  mili- 
tarized labor  if  as  a  result  of  battle  now  in  progress  on  front 
they  should  be  released.  Have  notified  French  that  we 
are  prepared  immediately  to  care  for  forty  thousand  such 
laborers.  Notes  of  conference  will  be  sent  you  as  soon  as  re- 
duced to  writing  by  the  French. 


84  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

2,  Conference  with  Colonel  Monnell,  of  the  Air  Service,  in 
connection  with  securing  night  bombing  airplanes  from  Italy 
to  supplement  English  supply,  and  conference  with  our  pur- 
chasing officer  in  this  connection. 

3.  Conference  with  French  at  which  rates  of  wages,  dis- 
tribution of  officers  and  labor  foremen,  housing,  discipline, 
etc.,  were  considered. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  28,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  28: 

1.  Conference  between  Colonel  Monnell,  Major  Allen,  of 
Air  Service,  together  with  representative  of  the  General  Pur- 
chasing Board  in  Italy,  in  connection  with  securing  night 
bombing  aeroplanes.  Considered  also  matter  of  possible  sup- 
ply of  raw  material  for  aeroplane  parts  to  be  fabricated  in 
Italy. 

2.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization  in  connection  with 
handling  current  arrivals  of  labor  and  also  preparations  for 
reception  of  any  increase  in  flow  caused  by  emergency  on 
Western  Front. 

3.  Conference  with  Paul  D.  Cravath  relative  to  system  of 
army  purchase  which  led  to  preparation  of  telegram  to  Com- 
mander-in-Chief a  copy  of  which  I  forw^arded  to  you. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  30,  191 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  29: 

I.  After  making  out  the  report  for  March  28  a  cable  was 
received  from  the  American  Ambassador  to  Italy  announcing 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  85 

that  Italy  would  furnish  us  twelve  thousand  militarized 
laborers,  and  the  matter  of  their  proper  handling  was  taken 
up  at  a  conference  with  the  Labor  Organization,  as  a  result  of 
which  the  telegrams  were  sent  you  in  connection  with  the 
handling  and  disposition  of  this  labor. 

2.  Consideration  of  telegram  from  General  Headquarters, 
forwarded  through  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  asking  for  statement  of  re- 
placement agreements  in  England  and  other  information 
bearing  upon  the  tonnage  situation.  The  preparation  of  these 
difficult  estimates  is  having  our  best  attention.  The  many 
sources  from  which  information  must  be  drawn  and  the 
general  supply  situation  in  Europe  is  such  that  at  best  our 
estimates  must  be  very  rough.  I  am  much  in  hope  that  I  can 
wire  some  sort  of  an  estimate  within  the  next  two  days. 

3.  Conference  with  the  Engineer  Department  on  forecast. 

4.  Consideration  of  official  report  of  meeting  held  on  March 
27  between  the  French  and  Major  Jackson  and  myself  re- 
garding French  militarized  labor,  concerning  which  I  shall 
write  you. 

5.  Conference  with  Colonel  H.  F.  Rethers  relative  to 
English  supply  situation. 

6.  Conference  with  various  members  of  Staff  relative  to 
procurement  of  supplies  and  method  of  handling  them. 

7.  Conference  with  Crosby  relative  to  probable  cash  re- 
quirements of  A.E.F.  for  purchases,  payment  of  troops,  etc., 
which  should  be  provided  and  available  during  the  next 
sixt>'  days  ($176,527,000).  He  expressed  his  opinion  that 
the  A.E.F.  should  accede  to  the  Italian  request,  conveyed  in 
Ambassador  Page's  cable,  for  a  certain  number  of  American 
troops  to  go  to  the  Italian  line  because  of  its  effect  on  the 
Italian  morale  —  this  opinion  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


86  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

March  31,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  30: 

1.  Conference  with  French  Mission  relative  to  situation  on 
Western  Front  as  related  to  possibility  of  our  receiving  the 
French  miners,  which  resulted  in  telegrams  to  you. 

2.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization  relative  to  han- 
dling Italian  labor  and  current  supplies  of  labor  coming 
from  our  own  agencies. 

3.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief,  who  called 
over  the  telephone,  regarding  labor  situation  and  proposition 
of  Crosby  in  connection  with  alterations  in  the  method  of  our 
purchases,  which  alterations  the  Commander-in-Chief  dis- 
approves; also  on  Italian  labor  matter. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

March  31,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  March  31 : 

1.  Morning  spent  in  conference  with  Labor  Organization 
regarding  method  of  handling  Italian  and  other  labor,  having 
under  consideration  cables  received  from  Italy  and  other 
general  information. 

2.  Conferred  with  Crosby  in  connection  with  offer  received 
from  London  of  camp  and  munition  equipment  for  500,000 
infantry,  concerning  which  I  wired  you  and  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  as  requested  from  London.  Crosby  has  no  knowledge 
of  this  matter. 

3.  Balance  of  day  spent  in  disposing  of  general  routine  of 
office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  87 

April  2,  19 1 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  i : 

1.  Conference  in  the  morning  with  Commandant  Varaigne, 
Chief  of  the  French  Mission,  and  Captain  Didion,  of  the 
French  Mission,  relative  to  the  question  of  French  labor  and 
the  general  labor  situation,  including  question  of  arrange- 
ments with  the  French  Government  for  transportation  of  the 
Italian  labor.  The  use  of  the  troop  trains  for  bringing  Eng- 
lish and  French  troops  from  Italy  to  the  Western  Front, 
necessitating  the  postponement  of  the  moving  of  our  labor 
troops,  suggested  the  plan,  concerning  which  I  wired  you,  of 
the  mobilization  of  the  Italian  labor  near  the  French  border. 
The  Italian  Government  notifies  us  that  they  expect  an 
ofTensive  to  start  on  April  8,  and  that  if  after  this  offensive 
starts  this  Italian  militarized  labor  is  shipped  to  France  it  may 
be  misconstrued  by  the  Italian  people.  As  a  matter  of  fact 
the  Italian  militarized  labor  which  we  shall  receive  has  not 
been  found  trustworthy  at  the  front  and  the  matter  is  one  of 
morale  simply.  The  Italian  Government  also  suggest  that 
the  matter  of  the  maintenance  of  the  proper  discipline  among 
the  labor  troops  have  our  careful  attention.  This  matter  will 
be  the  subject  of  continued  negotiations.  Advice  of  Captain 
Cutcheon  was  had  in  matters  of  this  conference,  because  of  his 
knowledge  of  the  Italian  situation. 

2.  I  am  sending  Captain  Cutcheon  to  General  Headquar- 
ters to-morrow,  as  I  feel  he  should  make  a  personal  statement 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  reasons  for  which  the 
Italian  Government  is  urging  the  sending  of  at  least  a  small 
portion  of  our  American  troops  to  Italy.  The  matter  is  one  of 
first  importance  from  the  standpoint  of  the  Italians  in  the 
matter  of  maintenance  of  general  morale. 

3.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  with 
reference  to  plan  of  securing  cotton  goods  from  Switzerland 


88  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

by  importation  of  raw  cotton  located  in  Italy  formerly  be- 
longing to  German  and  Austrian  owners  which  is  to  be  req- 
uisitioned by  the  Italian  Government  and  probably  shipped 
to  Switzerland. 

4.  Routine  matters  connected  with  technical  service,  Paris 
Headquarters,  English  Supplies,  etc. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  2,  1918 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  2 : 

1 .  Matter  of  telegram  from  General  Headquarters  relative 
to  English  replacement  agreements  under  consideration. 
Major  Drake  is  communicating  with  our  representatives  in 
London  by  telephone. 

2.  Conference  on  labor  situation  resulting  in  telegrams  for- 
warded for  consideration  of  General  Patrick  as  to  rearrange- 
ment of  some  of  our  present  labor  units.  Also  conference  with 
French  as  to  handling  Italian  militarized  labor  which  they 
think  they  can  transport  for  us  after  April  8,  as  wired  you. 

3.  Conference  on  wood  situation. 

4.  Ordinary  duties  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engmeers,  N.A. 

April  3,  1918 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Service  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  3: 

I.  Practically  whole  day  given  to  business  of  Labor  Organ- 
ization —  transportation,  conference  with  the  French,  prepa- 
ration of  plans  of  organization,  consideration  of  personnel, 
etc.  Many  dispatches  sent  you  in  this  connection  to-day,  and 
give  the  best  indication  of  the  nature  of  decisions  arrived  at. 


CIVILIAN  LABOR  RECEPTION  DEPOT,  ST.  DENIS,  NOVEMBER  l6,  I918 


ITALIAN  TROOPS  AT  WORK  ON  THE  SERMOISE  END  OF  THE   NEVERS 
RAILROAD  CUT-OFF,  NOVEMBER  20,   IQlS 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  89 

2.  Consideration  of  supply  and  purchase  questions;  also 
matter  of  replacement  agreements  in  England  still  under 
consideration. 

3.  Special  attention  is  asked  to  the  matter  of  detail  of 
officers  to  assist  in  handling  labor.  As  we  shall  soon  secure  up 
to  50,cxx)  civilian  laborers,  the  extremely  large  number  of 
officers  whom  it  will  be  necessary  to  assign  to  us  is  requiring 
the  careful  attention  of  your  Staff.  If  we  secure  labor  faster 
than  we  have  the  facilities  for  proper  handling,  I  feel  sure 
you  will  excuse  a  few  inevitable  troubles.  However,  as  we 
receive  the  big  detail  of  officers  necessary  they  will  be 
straightened  out.  Your  knowledge  of  the  emergency  which 
we  confront  will  enable  you  to  make  proper  allowances  for  any 
apparent  deficiencies  temporarily  in  our  service  if  they  occur. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Efigineers,  N.A. 

April  5,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  4: 

*.  I .  Day  given  chiefly  to  Labor  Organization ;  reports  of  field 
officers ;  Spanish  labor  situation ;  shipment  of  Chinese  labor  and 
various  other  matters  which  have  been  the  subject  of  telegrams. 

2.  Final  disposition  of  matter  of  replacement  agreements 
in  England  so  far  as  it  affects  this  office,  details  of  which  have 
been  sent  you. 

3.  Consideration  of  supply  situation  chiefly  concerning  im- 
portations from  Switzerland  and  Spain. 

4.  Also  conference  on  French  wood  supply. 

5.  Conference  with  the  French  relative  to  German  prisoner 
labor  from  Western  Front  in  connection  with  which  I  sent  you 
copy  of  letter  from  the  Director  of  the  Central  Office  of 
Franco-American  Relations. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


90    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

April  6,  1918 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  5: 

1.  Having  received  letter  from  McFadden,  of  the  War 
Trade  Board,  stating  that  the  War  Trade  Board  is  interested 
in  the  supply  of  wolfram  on  account  of  its  importance  in  the 
manufacture  of  high-speed  steel,  and  of  emery  on  account  of 
its  use  in  the  preparation  of  optical  glasses  and  lenses,  and  is 
therefore  greatly  interested  in  the  activities  of  the  Inter- 
Allied  Metal  Committee  concerning  itself  with  the  produc- 
tion, control  of  price,  and  distribution  of  wolfram,  zinc, 
tin,  aluminum,  antimony,  calcium  silicate,  copper,  cryolite, 
chrome,  graphite,  and  emery,  I  had  a  conference  with  him. 
He  stated  that  large  shipments  of  emery  are  much  needed  in 
the  United  States  and  are  now  held  up  at  Marseilles.  It 
seemed  wise  that  McFadden  should  be  appointed  a  member 
of  the  Inter-Allied  Metal  Committee,  as  he  is  on  the  ground 
in  Paris  and  in  touch  with  the  American  situation  through  the 
War  Trade  Board,  since  the  latter  issues  licenses  and  is  con- 
cerned with  the  control  of  price  of  metals  in  various  foreign 
markets.  As  General  Williams  was  the  American  representa- 
tive on  the  Committee,  I  called  him  by  telephone  at  Tours, 
and  he  stated  that  he  strongly  advised  the  appointment  of 
McFadden  on  this  Committee.  Accordingly  I  called  General 
Headquarters  by  telephone  and  through  Colonel  McCoy 
arranged  McFadden's  appointment  by  General  Pershing  on 
the  Inter-Allied  Committee.  General  Pershing  had  before 
appointed  General  Williams  on  this  Committee.  McCoy 
stated  that,  inasmuch  as  General  Williams  is  about  to  take  a 
trip  to  the  United  States,  this  matter  was  opportunely  pre- 
sented. McFadden  will  now  take  steps  to  expedite  shipments 
of  emery  from  Marseilles. 

2.  Discussed  with  our  labor  representative  in  Spain  and 
Chief  of  Labor  Bureau  contract  for  payment  of  Spanish  labor. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  91 

3.  Took  up  matter  with  McFadden  of  appointing  Dr. 
Field,  now  connected  with  our  Purchasing  Department  in 
Switzerland,  as  an  additional  representative  of  War  Trade 
Board  there  to  act  with  present  representative  of  War  Trade 
Board,  Dreisel.   McFadden  acquiesced  in  this  suggestion. 

4.  Discussed  with  Captain  Cutcheon  the  Italian  labor 
matter  in  view  of  telegram  received  by  me  from  the  American 
Ambassador  in  which  it  is  announced  that  Italy  has  recon- 
sidered its  willingness  to  cede  us  twelve  thousand  militarized 
laborers.  Copy  of  this  telegram,  and  also  of  telegram  sent  by 
Captain  Cutcheon  to  Ambassador  Page  in  Rome,  has  been 
wired  to  you  as  well  as  to  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

5.  Routine  matters  —  forecasts  for  ensuing  three  months, 
estimates  of  probable  disbursements  on  account  of  supplies, 
etc. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  7,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  6: 

1.  Conference  with  officers  of  Labor  Organization  relative 
to  administration  of  civilian  labor  troops.  Telegrams  re- 
ceiv^ed  this  morning  from  Colonel  Bash  relative  to  the  central 
labor  depot  and  detail  of  officers  adjust  matter  to  our  entire 
satisfaction. 

2.  Consideration  of  proposal  of  Oscar  T.  Crosby  relative 
to  Inter-Allied  Committee  for  investigation  of  status  of 
Allied  military  supplies,  concerning  which  I  shall  write  you. 

3.  Conference  with  General  Atterbury  relative  to  arrange- 
ment for  car  building  by  Belgians  and  other  supply  matters. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


92    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

April  7,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  7: 

1.  Conference  on  distribution  of  quarters  in  Elysee  Palace 
Hotel  to  which  we  expect  to  move  the  General  Purchasing 
Board  about  May  i.  Called  in  the  members  of  the  Board  to 
discuss  the  fair  principles  which  should  govern  distribution 
with  a  view  to  the  facilitation  of  business.  The  Board  was 
asked  to  inspect  the  quarters  to-day  and  then  renew  dis- 
cussion with  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  as  to  assignment. 

2.  Conference  with  officers  of  Labor  Organization  and  dis- 
cussion of  plans  in  connection  with  handling  labor  which  will 
be  submitted  to  you. 

3.  Routine  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawt:s 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  9,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  8 : 

1.  Conference  with  yourself  with  reference  to  general 
form  of  labor  organization.  In  accordance  with  your  sugges- 
tion expect  to  go  to  Tours  for  further  consideration  of  matter 
with  your  Staff. 

2.  Conference  with  Commander-in-Chief  in  connection 
with  situation  in  regard  to  Italian  labor.  After  consideration 
of  the  matter  General  Pershing  prepared  and  sent  the  tele- 
gram to  the  American  Ambassador  to  Italy  copy  of  which  I 
have  wired  you  to-day.  Secretary  Baker  having  left  the 
decision  as  to  whether  American  troops  will  be  sent  to  the 
Italian  front  to  the  General,  my  assumption  is  that  prompt 
compliance  by  the  Italians  with  the  General's  request  for 
labor  may  lead  him  to  act  upon  the  intimation  conveyed  in 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  93 

the  last  sentence  of  his  telegram.   Shall  keep  you  promptly 
advised  of  any  answer  received  to  this  telegram. 

3.  Consideration  of  tonnage  reports  from  different  services. 
As  I  am  not  satisfied  that  all  the  services  have  reported 
amount  of  tonnage  purchased,  have  asked  for  additional  in- 
formation in  this  connection. 

4.  Consideration  with  Labor  Organization  of  situation  at 
La  Courtine,  resulting  in  my  forwarding  telegrams  relative  to 
detail  of  officers  there. 

5.  Conference  with  McFadden,  of  War  Trade  Board,  and 
General  Rogers  relative  to  matter  of  importations  to  Switzer- 
land of  cotton  now  in  Italy  to  be  manufactured  into  garments 
for  American  troops. 

6.  Routine  duties  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  9,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  9: 

1.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization  relative  to  organi- 
zation and  discipline  of  central  depots.  Reports  from  officers 
in  the  field,  preparation  of  provisions  making  slight  changes 
in  general  plans  of  Labor  Organization  which  I  shall  submit  to 
you  at  Tours  to-morrow  for  your  consideration. 

2.  Conference  with  Commander-in-Chief  on  Italian  labor 
and  general  European  supply  situation.  Commander-in- 
Chief  left  for  Chaumont  this  afternoon. 

3.  Received  report  from  Captain  Cutcheon  showing  marked 
progress  in  work  of  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments. 
He  has  been  in  consultation  during  the  last  two  days  with 
General  Golligher,  of  the  British  army,  to  determine  the 
form,  method,  and  amount  of  British  settlements. 

4.  Conference  on  general  wood  situation  in  France,  Captain 
Moore  having  returned  from  Tours  where  he  had  conference 


94  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

with  General  Patrick  who  has  approved  our  general  method  of 
procedure.  Arranged  for  conference  with  General  Chevalier 
to  report  General  Patrick's  conclusions. 

5.  Consideration  of  Spanish  export  permit  situation;  also 
matter  of  importation  of  Swiss  refrigerator  cars  and  Swiss 
lumber.  Consideration  of  some  alterations  of  method  of 
negotiating  with  Swiss  in  relation  to  our  lumber  requirements, 
necessitating  consideration  of  the  matter  with  the  French. 
I  do  not  feel  that  the  French  representative  in  Switzerland, 
Captain  Minost,  urges  with  sufficient  insistence  the  claims  of 
the  French  and  ourselves  for  lumber.  The  War  Trade  Board, 
through  Mr.  McFadden,  is  very  intelligently  and  actively 
cooperating  to  bring  pressure  upon  Switzerland  in  connection 
with  the  situation. 

6.  Preparation  of  letter  containing  my  views  on  the  Allied 
Commission  for  Coordinating  Military  Purchases,  for  sub- 
mission to  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  General  Staff,  and  Paul  D.  Cra- 
vath,  same  being  in  answer  to  letter  from  Mr.  Cravath, 
Counsel,  Inter- Ally  Council  on  War  Purchases  and  Finance. 
Copy  of  this  letter  has  been  fon;v'arded  to  you. 

7.  Routine  administration  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A, 

April  10,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  10: 

1.  Consideration   of   replacement   situation   in   England. 
Captain  Cabell  just  returned  from  there.    Attached  is  copj 
of  letter  from  Major  J.  E.  Dunning,  dated  April  6,  on  this 
matter. 

2.  Conference  with  Commandant  Varaigne,  Chief  of  the 
French  Mission,  relative  to  the  location  of  families  of  coal 
miners  in  case  we  receive  the  French  miners.  He  stated  that 
the  French  understood  the  situation  at  the  meeting  of  March 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  95 

27,  to  wit,  that  the  laborers  would  not  all  be  employed  at  the 
points  of*  assembly.  In  view  of  the  letter  received,  however, 
from  Headquarters,  S.O.S.,  the  matter  is  again  being  taken 
up  with  the  French  so  as  to  prevent  any  possible  misunder- 
standing. 

3.  Matters  of  labor  organization. 

4.  Leaving  at  2.35  p.m.  for  Tours  in  order  to  consult  you 
jrelative  to  plans  and  methods  of  labor  organization. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A, 

April  12,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  10,  con- 
tinued, and  on  April  11,  April  12: 

1.  Arrived  at  Tours  evening  of  April  10  with  Major 
Jackson,  Captains  Estes,  and  Dyar,  of  my  organization. 
Went  into  conference  with  Colonel  Smither  relative  to  for- 
mation of  Labor  Corps  and  upon  the  matter  of  general  or- 
ganization of  labor.  Arrived  at  satisfactory  conclusions  on  all 
points,  the  details  of  which  it  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  here,  as 
they  will  be  reported  by  Colonel  Smither  direct  after  perhaps 
one  additional  consultation  between  himself  and  myself  here. 

2.  Proceeded  to  St.  Nazaire,  where  I  spent  April  11  in 
examination  of  conditions  surrounding  labor  and  in  consulta- 
tion with  officers  there,  revisiting  my  old  regiment  stationed 
there. 

3.  On  April  12  conference  on  barrack  situation  in  Switzer- 
land. 

4.  Conference  with  Chairman,  Board  of  Contracts  and 
Adjustments.  Forwarded  report  of  Chairman  for  the  last 
quarter. 

5.  Conference  with  Mr.  E.  E.  Sawyer,  representative  of 
British  Minister  of  Munitions  in  Switzerland,  relative  to 
motor  cars  available  in  Switzerland. 


96    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

6.  Consideration  of  Italian  labor  situation  concerning  which 
I  wired  yourself  and  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

7.  Conference  on  labor  organization  matters  with  members 
of  Labor  Bureau. 

8.  Also  considered  matter  of  recommendation  of  appoint- 
ment of  a  commission  to  determine  whether  or  not  there  is 
now  available  vacant  warehousing  space  in  France  and  be- 
longing to  the  French  and  English  which  could  be  availed  of  by 
the  A.E.F.  in  a  way  which  will  make  possible  material  lessen- 
ing of  warehouse  construction.  Suggestions  in  this  connection 
will  be  submitted  later.  Expect  to  discuss  general  principles 
of  this  matter  with  General  Harbord,  Chief  of  Staff,  who  is  in 
Paris  this  evening. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  14,  1918 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  13: 

1.  Conference  with  Captain  Moore  and  Captain  Jay  in 
connection  with  wood  from  Switzerland  and  upon  the  matter 
of  the  approaching  meeting  with  the  Swiss  on  the  part  of  the 
Inter-Allied  Wood  Committee,  at  which  prices  and  quantities 
of  wood  from  Switzerland  for  the  Allies  will  be  agreed  upon. 

2.  Conference  with  Paymaster  Hatch,  of  the  navy,  in 
connection  with  the  coordination  of  purchases  for  the  navy. 
Discussed  plan  of  having  purchases  made  entirely  by  our 
organization.  Reached  understanding  as  to  method  for  the 
present. 

3.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization  and  officer  selected 
to  have  charge  of  the  internal  business  department  of  the  office. 

4.  Consideration  of  the  estimate  of  the  amount  of  tonnage 
which  can  be  purchased  in  Europe  during  the  next  six  months 
in  response  to  request  from  General  Headquarters.  A  dispatch 
in  this  connection  will  be  sent  you. 


J. 


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C:  DAILY  REPORTS  97 

5.  Conference  in  connection  with  the  oat  situation  and 
request  of  the  French  for  assistance,  concerning  which  tele- 
grams have  gone  forward. 

6.  Conference  on  method  of  securing  supplies  from  Algiers 
and  tonnage  for  the  same.  Took  up  the  matter  with  Colonel 
Maud,  of  the  English  army,  in  connection  with  joint  action 
with  England  in  this  connection. 

7.  Conference  with  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Contracts 
and  Adjustments  in  connection  with  the  question  of  lumber 
replacements  with  the  French,  the  important  papers  in  con- 
nection with  which  have  been  forwarded  to  you. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  E7igineers,  NA. 

April  17,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

THEfollowingisareportof  my  activities  on  April  14, 15,  and  16: 

1.  Conference  relative  to  labor  depot  at  La  Corneau. 
Assignment  of  officers  and  men  to  place  camp  in  order,  etc. 

2.  Conference  on  Spanish  export  situation  with  McFadden, 
of  War  Trade  Board,  and  Colonel  Maud,  of  the  English  army. 
The  information  derived  from  this  conference  McFadden  is 
transmitting  to  the  State  Department  at  Washington.  I 
expressed  to  McFadden  our  hearty  agreement  with  views  ex- 
pressed by  representative  of  War  Trade  Board  in  Spain,  that 
all  export  permits  from  the  United  States  to  Spain  should  be 
immediately  stopped  until  export  permits  are  granted  by 
Spain  on  certain  materials  already  purchased  there  for  the 
A.E.F. 

3.  Consideration  of  matters  of  labor  organization  and  con- 
sideration of  proper  steps  to  secure  a  larger  displacement  of 
soldiers  at  base  points  by  the  use  of  French  female  labor. 

4.  Conference  on  organization  of  A.E.F.  purchases  in 
Switzerland,  with  Captain  Miller,  Engineer  purchasing 
officer  heretofore  stationed  there. 


98  JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

5.  Conference  on  Ordnance  bills. 

6.  April  16:  By  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  accom- 
panied him  on  April  16  to  Headquarters  of  First  Division, 
then  to  General  Foch's  Headquarters,  arriving  in  Paris  the 
same  evening.    Discussed  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  the 
matter  of  military   unification  of  entire   Allied  Service  of 
Supply.    This  matter  also  discussed  with  General  Harbord, 
Chief  of  Staff.   The  General  Purchasing  Agent  is  strongly  of 
the  opinion  that  to  match  the  present  unification  of  military 
command  on  the  front  there  must  be  a  similar  military  central 
control  of  the  entire  Allied  supply  and  transportation  system. 
For  instance,  the  supply  and  transportation  situation  of  the 
Allies  is  changing  so  rapidly  that  in  connection  with  the  steady 
emptying  of  French  warehouse  capacity  the  time  has  come 
for  immediate  determination  of  the  relation  of  this  situation 
to  the  warehousing,  supply,  and  transportation  programme  of 
the  A.E.F.  This  and  other  equally  important  situations  can- 
not be  controlled,  in  the  judgment  of  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent,  by  Allied  Boards  or  by  the  Supreme  War  Council. 
Immediate  militar>'  coordination  of  the  Allied  Services  of  the 
Rear  should  be  made  under  a  plan  similar  to  that  devised  by 
the  Commander-in-Chief  for  the  coordination  of  certain  ac- 
tivities of  his  own  services  —  in  other  words,  there  must  be  a 
military  authority  which  considers  and  then  acts  without 
further  discussion.   In  the  judgment  of  the  General  Purchas- 
ing Agent  any  considerable  further  advance  of  the  Germans 
will  necessitate  the  immediate  adoption  of  such  a  plan,  but  he 
feels  that  a  plan,  absolutely  necessary  for  relief  of  conditions 
after  a  reverse,  had  best  be  used  to  prevent  one.    For  every 
argument  as  to  the  necessity  of  single  military  command  at 
the  front  there  is  one  for  creating  a  similar  situation  at  the  rear, 
the  rear  in  this  case  being  not  only  all  French  territory,  but 
England  and  the  United  States  as  well.  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  has  already  devised  a  plan  in  connection  with  his  own 
services  which  can  be  adopted  without  injurious  interference 
with  the  activities  of  the  separate  Allied  organizations  of  the 


C:  DAILY  RErORTS  99 

rear  now  existing,  but  coordinating  immediately  their  activi- 
ties in  such  a  way  as  to  provide  for  immediate  betterment  of 
conditions  and  an  intelHgent  unity  of  action  impossible  under 
present  circumstances  to  be  accomplished  through  the  Su- 
preme War  Council,  common  consent,  or  town-meeting 
methods.  This  represents  some  of  the  points  covered  in  the 
discussion  with  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  18,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  17: 

1.  Conference  with  Captain  C.  R.  Armstrong  in  connection 
with  Portuguese  labor  and  supply  situation.  Owing  to  the  fact 
that  he  has  been  ordered  to  a  hospital  I  am  selecting  another 
ofificer  for  this  duty. 

2.  Conference  on  Swiss  wood  situation. 

3.  Consideration  of  forward  requirements  of  the  army  for 
next  quarter. 

4.  Conference  on  labor  depot  organization  and  other  labor 
matters. 

5.  Spent  evening  in  conference  with  the  Commander-in- 
Chief.  Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  18,  19 1 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:  The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  17  and  18: 
I.  Continuing  April  17,  spent  evening  in  conference  with 
Commander-in-Chief  principally  on  subject  of  possible  mili- 
tary unification  of  Allied  Service  of  Supply.  Attitude  of  Com- 
mander-in-Chief in  connection  with  this  matter  will  be  in- 
fluenced by  his  determination  of  the  actual  emergency  after 


loo        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

personal  inspection  of  battle  area,  for  which  he  will  probably 
start  to-morrow. 

2.  April  i8:  Consideration  of  matter  of  agreement  of 
A.E.F.  to  furnish  foresters  to  the  French  and  possible  ad- 
justment of  that  situation  by  increasing  wood  allowance  to 
the  French  from  our  foresters  at  present  at  work  in  lieu  of  fur- 
nishing additional  foresters  to  work  directly  for  the  French. 
Letter  sent  to  the  French  in  this  connection. 

3.  Conference  on  labor  situation. 

4.  Conference  with  Colonel  Moulton-Barrett,  English 
liaison  officer,  who  left  for  Tours  this  afternoon  to  consult 
with  you.  Had  additional  conference  with  Commander-in- 
Chief  this  noon  and  secured  his  signature  to  letter  to  British 
War  Office  accepting  Colonel  Moulton-Barrett's  designation 
for  duty  with  us,  which  letter,  in  accordance  with  Colonel 
Moulton-Barrett's  request,  has  been  mailed  to  the  British 
War  Office,  London. 

5.  Additional  conference  with  Commander-in-Chief  on 
subject  of  Allied  Service  of  Supply. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  19,  1918 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  18,  con- 
tinued, and  on  April  19: 

I.  Was  called  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  his  house 
last  night,  where  he  announced  to  me  his  decision  to  demand 
military  unification  of  the  entire  Allied  Service  of  Supply. 
During  the  afternoon  he  visited  M.  Clemenceau  and  secured 
his  acquiescence  in  the  principle  and  also  an  agreement  for 
cooperation  between  the  French  and  Americans,  even  if 
difficulty  should  be  encountered  in  securing  the  English 
agreement  for  cooperation.  At  Clemenceau's  request  he  is 
preparing  a  letter  to  the  French.   He  is  also  communicating 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  loi 

his  intentions  by  cable,  for  approval  by  the  President,  to  the 
War  Department.  He  will  leave  for  England  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  agreement  for  Allied  supply  militarization  and 
other  purposes  connected  with  our  American  troops  there, 
after  conference  with  Haig  to-day.  He  is  fully  convinced 
that  unified  military  control  of  this  situation  can,  upon  the 
initiative  of  the  United  States,  at  last  be  secured,  and  is  pro- 
ceeding energetically  for  its  accomplishment.  In  my  own 
mind  his  action  marks  the  beginning  of  the  upward  curve 
of  inter-Allied  effort  which  will  culminate  in  a  final  and  com- 
plete success  of  the  common  cause.  The  Supreme  War  Council 
has  been  a  supreme  failure,  but  the  transfer  of  its  authority, 
the  necessity  for  the  existence  of  which  is  universally  recog- 
nized, to  French  military  authority,  marks  the  beginning  of 
the  solution  of  a  great  problem. 

2.  April  19:  Consideration  of  plans  of  Board  of  Contracts 
and  Adjustments. 

3.  Conference  with  officers  of  Labor  Organization. 

4.  Conference  with  Chief  Liaison  Officer. 

5.  Consideration  of  method  of  gathering  information  to  be 
used  in  connection  with  the  plan  for  centralization  of  activi- 
ties of  the  rear  of  the  Allies,  if  the  Commander-in-Chief  is 
successful  in  securing  its  adoption.  Whatever  information  of 
this  sort  is  collected  will  be  submitted  to  you,  and  upon  re- 
turn of  the  Commander-in-Chief  from  England  it  will  prob- 
ably be  best  for  me  to  come  to  Tours  for  a  conference  with 
you.  The  adoption  of  the  plan  will  involve  immediate  study 
of  the  relation  of  the  American  projects  for  docks,  ware- 
houses, transportation,  supplies,  and  use  of  tonnage  in  its  re- 
lation at  least  to  the  French  situation  if  not  the  English.  The 
pressure  of  the  situation  is  as  great  upon  the  English  as  upon 
the  French  and  the  Americans,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  re- 
luctance and  delay  with  which  the  English  have  parted  with 
independent  powers  in  the  past  may  not  characterize  to  the 
same  degree  the  present  negotiations.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
they  will  realize  that  their  steadfastness  in  purpose  and  in 


102    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

battle  which  has  made  victory  possible  should  not  now  be 
allowed  to  interfere  with  it. 

6.  I  am  closing  this  report  at  noon  in  order  to  send  it  to  you 
personally  by  Sergeant  Kilkenny  of  my  office.  The  informa- 
tion contained  is,  of  course,  absolutely  secret  and  intended 
for  yourself  alone.  The  Chief  of  Staff  will  accompany  the 
Commander-in-Chief  to  England. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  21,  1918 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  20  and  21 : 

1.  Conference  with  Colonel  Barber,  of  your  Staff. 

2.  Conference  with  Colonel  Logan,  of  General  Head- 
quarters Staff. 

3.  Conference  on  labor  matters. 

4.  Conference  on  matters  of  Board  of  Contracts  and  Ad- 
justments. 

5.  Conference  in  connection  with  trip  of  McFadden, 
representative  of  War  Trade  Board,  and  Colonel  Maud,  of  the 
English  army,  to  Switzerland  to  take  up  with  our  representa- 
tives there  and  the  Swiss  Government  certain  matters  of 
supply,  notably  cotton  and  milk. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  22,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To :       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  22: 

I.  Consideration  of  suggestions  in  Cravath's  letter  regard- 
ing Allied  Commission  for  Coordinating  Military  Purchases. 
This  letter  has  been  the  subject  of  prior  correspondence  from 
me  to  yourself. 


C.  DAILY  REPORTS  103 

2.  Conference  on  labor  situation.  Correspondence  to 
Colonel  Hennessy  in  this  connection  forwarded  to  you. 

3.  Consideration  of  wood  situation  including  matter  of 
prices  to  be  charged  A.E.F. 

4.  Consideration    of   matters   of   Technical    Board.    Ap 
pointed  Major  Drake  as  Chairman,  authorizing  him  to  recom- 
mend five  additional  members. 

5.  Consideration  of  Spanish  freight-car  matter.  We  shall 
receive  750  freight  cars  from  this  source  under  arrangement 
with  French  Government  and  French  railroads  for  supplying 
of  metal  parts.  Arranged  for  conference  with  French  in  this 
connection. 

6.  Conference  with  Colonel  Spalding  relative  to  aircraft 
supply  service. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  23,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To :       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  23: 

1.  Consideration  of  requisition  of  cargo  of  lumber  on 
schooner  Anna  Maria  Abundo  at  Algeciras,  Spain.  The  cable 
which  I  sent  to  the  American  Ambassador  to  Secretary 
Lansing  in  this  connection  was  forwarded  to  you  yesterday 
and  it  explains  the  situation. 

2.  Conference  with  Colonel  Logan  and  members  of  the 
Staff  of  my  office  on  the  method  of  procuring  and  handling 
with  the  French  and  English  the  forecasts  of  army  supplies. 
This  matter  will  be  discussed  by  Major  Roop,  Chief  Statisti- 
cian of  this  office,  who  will  go  to  Tours  in  this  connection  on 
Friday  afternoon  in  accordance  with  telegram  of  Colonel 
Barber's  received  to-day. 

3.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization.  Authorized  trip 
to  England  in  connection  with  the  recruiting  of  female  clerk 
labor  to  take  the  place  of  soldiers  now  thus  employed. 


I04    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

4.  Conference  with  Commandant  Varaigne,  Chief  of  the 
French  Mission,  relative  to  nature  and  form  of  the  army 
supply  forecasts  to  be  considered  by  the  French, 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  24,  1918 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  24: 

1 .  Consideration  of  matter  of  request  by  Belgian  Govern- 
ment for  option  on  eight  thousand  freight  cars  to  be  exercised 
after  the  war.  In  view  of  importance  of  Belgian  cooperation 
received  and  to  be  received  in  the  matter  of  locomotives, 
labor,  etc.,  I  requested  Harjes  to  inquire  of  the  French  Gov- 
ernment what  would  be  their  attitude  in  this  connection  if  the 
A.E.F.  should  consider  the  giving  of  such  an  option.  When 
report  is  received  from  him,  shall  make  recommendations  in 
this  connection,  submitting  the  report  to  you  for  your  con- 
sideration and  decision. 

2.  Conference  with  Major  Jackson  and  Captain  Sanborn 
as  to  method  of  securing  Spanish  labor.  We  are  experiencing 
much  difficulty  in  the  attitude  of  the  Spanish  Government  in 
this  connection,  but  are  commencing  to  move  laborers. 

3.  Consideration  of  matter  of  freight  cars  in  Spain,  Min- 
ister Claveille  having  notified  me  of  the  acquiescence  of  the 
Government  in  our  arrangement  with  the  French  railways  by 
which  we  secure  these  cars. 

4.  Consideration  of  matter  of  form  for  presenting  joint  re- 
quirements of  different  services  of  A.E.F.  for  army  material, 
which  we  have  discussed  with  Colonel  Logan,  of  General 
Headquarters,  and  which  Major  Roop  will  bring  with  him  to 
your  Headquarters  on  Friday  to  discuss  with  the  chiefs  of  the 
services  in  connection  with  the  general  plan  of  presentation 
of  this  matter  to  be  adopted. 

5.  Conference  with  representative  of  B.E.F.  in  connection 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  105 

with  potato  supply  in  Spain.  These  potatoes  are  desired 
by  the  Quartermaster  Department.  Made  arrangement  for 
joint  purchase  on  behalf  of  B.E.F.  and  A.E.F.  through  Major 
Davidson,  of  English  army,  which  was  confirmed  by  Colonel 
Wilkins,  Q.M.C.,  this  morning. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  26,  19 1 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  25  and  26: 

1.  April  25:  Conference  with  Chief  of  Division  of  Female 
Labor  Department  relative  to  French  female  labor.  Wrote 
informing  you  that  we  are  prepared  to  furnish  this  labor  on 
requisitions  from  the  different  services. 

2.  Conference  with  Colonel  Logan,  of  General  StafT,  on 
forecast  statement  and  on  the  matter  of  general  cutting-down 
of  tonnage  requisitions  on  the  United  States. 

3.  April  26:  Conference  with  General  Rogers  and  members 
of  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments  relative  to  payment 
of  bills  rendered  by  French  Government  to  Quartermaster 
Department.   General  Rogers  has  this  matter  in  hand. 

4.  Consideration  of  Spanish  export  permit  matter  and 
closer  cooperation  between  purchasing  representative  of 
A.E.F.  and  representative  of  War  Trade  Board  located  in 
Spain. 

5.  Consideration  of  matter  of  replacements  from  the  United 
States  in  tonnage  of  certain  material  furnished  by  the  British 
to  us.  The  British  realize  that  in  the  present  situation  there 
is  an  impossibility  of  replacement  and  notify  us  informally 
that  replacement  of  supplies  that  we  have  already  drawn  will 
not  be  called  for  except  in  case  of  certain  limited  specialties  — 
one  of  these  being  five  thousand  tons  of  pig  iron  required  for 
trench  mortar  construction.  An  effort  will  be  made  to  cancel 
some  of  the  contracts  now  with  the  British  contractors  which 


io6    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

involve  the  replacement  of  steel.  This  matter  will  be  taken  up 
energetically  by  us. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  27,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  27 : 

1.  Conference  with  members  of  United  States  Shipping 
Board,  Messrs.  Sherman  and  Morrow,  relative  to  trans- 
Atlantic  tonnage. 

2.  Conference  with  Captain  Cutcheon  relative  to  business 
of  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments. 

3.  Conference  with  Major  Jackson  relative  to  labor  situa- 
tion. 

4.  Conference  with  Major  Drake  relative  to  Technical 
Board  matters. 

5.  Conference  with  staf!  of  my  office  relative  to  general 
chart  of  our  organization  in  connection  with  the  submission 
to  you  of  certain  recommendations  involving  inter-stafT  rank 
and  promotion  to  accord  therewith  in  order  to  attain  greatest 
efficiency  of  effort. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  29,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:  The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  28  and  29: 
I.  April  28:  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  in 
connection  with  his  plan  for  pooling  of  supplies  with  French 
and  effort  toward  the  military  unification  of  the  Allied  Serv- 
ice of  Supply.  The  letter  addressed  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  to  Clemenceau  on  this  subject,  in  which  he  suggested 
that  French  officers  be  appointed  to  have  a  preliminary  con- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  107 

ference  with  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  on  the  subject, 
the  results  of  which  were  to  be  submitted  to  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  was  received  by  M.  Clemenceau.  The  latter  sent 
M.  Loucheur  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  with  the  statement 
that  Clemenceau  would  formally  reply  to  the  letter,  naming 
Loucheur  to  represent  the  French  in  the  preliminary  confer- 
ence. The  Commander-in-Chief,  together  with  the  General 
Purchasing  Agent,  had  a  conference  with  Crosby,  and,  upon 
discovering  that  the  financial  arrangements  by  the  United 
States  for  the  benefit  of  Italy  had  not  yet  been  completed, 
again  forcibly  presented  the  request  that  these  negotiations  be 
used  in  connection  with  the  securing  of  militarized  labor  from 
Italy.  As  a  result  of  this  conference  Crosby  last  night  notified 
me  that  he  had  wired  the  Treasury  Department  asking  it  to 
name  Captain  F.  W.  M.  Cutcheon,  of  this  office,  as  its  repre- 
sentative to  go  to  Italy  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the 
transaction  concurrently  with  his  representation  of  the 
A.E.F.  in  the  matter  of  the  labor  request.  Orders  will  be 
asked  for  Captain  Cutcheon  to  go  to  Italy  as  soon  as  reply 
from  the  Treasury  Department  is  received.  The  attempt  will 
then  again  be  made  which  you  have  advocated  to  have  the 
principle  of  "give  and  take"  applied  in  these  international 
transactions. 

2.  At  a  second  conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief 
and  General  Crozier,  the  latter  stated  very  clearly  the  reasons 
which  impressed  him  upon  his  recent  trip  to  Italy  favoring  the 
sending  of  American  troops  there.  While  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  is  reserving  his  decision  until  conference  with  the 
French,  he  is  inclined  to  send  a  regiment  there  on  account  of 
its  effect  on  Italian  morale  and  in  obedience  to  their  insistent 
suggestions.  If  this  decision  is  made  it  would  still  further  ad- 
vance our  claim  for  recognition  in  the  shape  of  militarized 
labor,  although  the  other  questions  are  so  important  in  the 
matter  of  sending  troops  to  Italy  that  the  labor  question  does 
not  enter  the  mind  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  as  a  determin- 
ing element.   If,  however,  the  decision  is  to  be  favorable  the 


To8        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

announcement  of  it  will  be  most  opportune  for  us  in  connection 
with  procuring  labor. 

3.  April  29:  Called,  together  with  M.  Ganne,  Comman- 
dant Varaigne,  and  Major  Jackson,  upon  M.  Jeanneney, 
President  of  the  French  Council  of  Ministers,  and  urged 
again  the  necessity  of  additional  supply  of  labor  to  be  re- 
ceived by  the  A.E.F.  from  the  French.  M.  Jeanneney  stated 
that  he  would  take  the  matter  up  with  the  Council  of  Minis- 
ters and  request  a  definite  allotment  of  the  percentage  of  the 
German  prisoners  of  war  to  the  A.E.F.  and  certain  other 
labor.  While  the  laborers  at  the  coal  mines  are  temporarily 
idle  owing  to  the  bombardment  of  the  area,  the  great  bulk  of 
them  are  being  used  in  connection  with  fortification  and  en- 
trenchment of  the  Allied  positions  and  they  are  not  available 
for  us  in  any  large  number.  It  is  possible,  however,  we  shall 
receive  some  labor  from  this  source. 

4.  Conference  with  Colonel  Logan  and  Dwight  Morrow,  of 
the  United  States  Shipping  Board,  in  connection  with  the 
proposition  to  locate  a  headquarters  of  the  United  States 
Shipping  Board  at  General  Headquarters  in  order  more 
closely  to  coordinate  its  operations  with  the  necessities  of  the 
A.E.F.  This  suggestion  originated  with  Colonel  Logan,  and  I 
understand  from  the  Commander-in-Chief  that  he  has  ap- 
proved it. 

5.  Consideration  of  labor  matters  concerning  which  tele- 
grams have  been  sent  to  you  for  attention  of  General  Patrick 
and  Colonel  Smither.  Major  Jackson  will  come  to  Head- 
quarters, S.O.S.,  in  connection  with  the  discussion  of  the  form 
of  organization  of  labor  companies. 

6.  Discussion  with  Captain  Cutcheon  and  Captain  Jay  of  a 
suggestion  from  Crosby  that  they  become  attached  to  the 
United  States  Treasury  in  connection  with  its  financial  settle- 
ments and  negotiations  in  European  neutral  countries. 
While  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  must  yield  to  the  pres- 
sure of  more  important  situations  if  they  seem  to  be  so,  he  is 
somewhat  concerned  over  the  possibility  of  losing  the  serv- 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  F.  W.  M.  CUTCHEON 
Chief  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,  A.E.F. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  109 

Ices  of  Captain  Cutcheon,  and  before  the  matter  reaches  the 
point  of  decision  will  desire  to  present  to  you  the  entire 
situation  for  your  decision. 

7.  Conference  with  Captain  Moore,  McFadden,  of  War 
Trade  Board,  on  their  return  from  Switzerland.  The  very 
marked  accomplishments  of  their  visit  will  be  sent  you  in  the 
form  of  a  report  from  Captain  Moore.  It  relates  to  barracks 
and  wood,  also  to  the  refrigerator  car  matter.  I  feel  that 
General  Patrick  will  be  pleased  with  the  result  of  the  visit  of 
these  officers. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

April  30,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  April  30: 

1.  Conference  with  H.  H.  Raymond,  of  the  Shipping  Con- 
trol Committee,  and  Stephens,  Sherman,  and  Morrow,  of  the 
Inter-Allied  Shipping  Board,  on  general  shipping  situation 
as  related  to  Allied  coordination.  Raymond,  Sherman,  and 
Morrow  are  reporting  to  you  to-day. 

2.  Conference  over  form  of  contemplated  change  in  pur- 
chasing organization  in  Switzerland.  Report  of  Captain 
Moore  as  to  the  success  had  by  our  representatives  there  in 
connection  with  our  wood  supply  is  in  process  of  preparation 
and  will  be  forwarded  to-morrow.  For  the  gratifying  results 
obtained  we  feel  largely  indebted  to  Mr.  McFadden,  repre- 
sentative of  the  War  Trade  Board,  whose  cooperation  was 
very  effective. 

3.  Conference  with  Major  Jackson,  of  Labor  Bureau,  who 
leaves  for  Tours  this  afternoon  to  consult  with  you  in  reform 
of  labor  organization. 

4.  Conference  with  Captain  Cutcheon  relative  to  procedure 
in  case  of  certain  contracts  involving  suspicious  circumstances. 
The  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments 


no    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

was  instructed  to  turn  over  all  information  bearing  upon  the 
matter  to  the  officers  of  our  Intelligence  Department  for  the 
strictest  investigation  and  report.  The  particular  matter  in- 
volves contracts  in  connection  with  construction  of  a  build- 
ing. 

5.  Conference  with  McFadden,  of  War  Trade  Board. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  I,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  i,  191 8: 

1.  Conference  with  Chief  Statistician  relative  to  form  of 
reports  of  material  on  hand  from  different  departments. 

2.  Conference  with  Chairman  of  Board  of  Contracts  and 
Adjustments  relative  to  current  status  of  Bureau  of  Accounts. 
For  your  information  I  am  enclosing  a  memorandum  of  this 
status,  giving  a  summary  of  its  important  functions  both  ac- 
tive and  proposed. 

3.  Conference  with  McFadden,  of  the  War  Trade  Board, 
who,  during  his  recent  visit  in  Switzerland,  represented  the 
United  States  Treasury  in  arrangements  for  a  credit  which 
will  save  the  loss  of  exchange  on  purchases  by  the  A.E.F.  Also 
discussed  with  him  the  desirability  of  having  a  representative 
of  the  War  Trade  Board  nominated  for  Italy  in  order  to  ob- 
tain the  same  useful  cooperation  in  that  country,  which, 
through  the  medium  of  the  War  Trade  Board,  we  are  receiving 
in  Switzerland  and  Spain.  In  this  connection  the  General 
Purchasing  Agent  is  seeking  information  as  to  the  present 
status  of  A.E.F.  contracts  in  Italy  upon  which  there  is  delay 
owing  to  the  refusal  of  the  Government  to  give  export  per- 
mits. Also  discussed  with  McFadden  possibility  of  securing 
use  of  two  ships  in  connection  with  the  fulfillment  of  certain 
commercial  agreements  of  the  United  States  with  Switzerland. 

4.  Conference  with  Captain  Moore  relative  to  the  Swiss 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  in 

lumber  situation,  his  report  on  which  I  am  mailing  to  you 
to-day.  Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  2,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Serv^ices  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  2 : 

I.  Conference  with  Staff  of  General  Purchasing  Agent  as 
to  method  to  be  pursued  in  the  allocation  among  the  different 
services  of  material  reported  to  us  by  the  French  Govern- 
ment as  available.  This  matter  involves  many  elements 
which  are  having  our  consideration.  Existing  orders  make  it 
the  duty  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  to  make  those  al- 
lotments. The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  while  he  desires  to 
consider  the  matter  a  little  longer  pending  the  procuring  of 
certain  information,  is  inclined  to  think  that  the  duty  of  al- 
location should  be  performed  at  General  Headquarters  or  at 
Headquarters,  S.O.S.,  since  more  immediate  contact  is  had 
at  those  points  with  the  respective  needs  of  the  different 
services  and  a  more  intelligent  allotment  of  an  insufhcient 
supply,  with  due  regard  to  the  relative  importance  of  these 
needs,  can  be  had  there.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent 
might  report  to  General  Headquarters  or  to  Headquarters, 
S.O.S.,  the  total  supply  of  any  particular  material  available 
for  our  army  from  the  French,  and  after  the  percentages  of 
allotment  are  determined  by  General  Headquarters  or  Head- 
quarters, S.O.S.,  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  could  be 
charged  with  the  responsibility  of  holding  the  services  to  their 
respective  allotments,  since  the  requisitions  would  pass 
through  his  office  and  in  consequence  he  would  have  the  nec- 
essary information  therefor.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent 
upon  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  is  to  meet  M.  Lou- 
cheur,  French  Minister  of  Armament,  this  afternoon  for  a  con- 
ference on  the  methods  of  military  unification  of  the  Allied 
Services  of  Supply.  This  discussion  will  be  preliminary,  but  the 


112        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

consummation  of  the  plan  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  what- 
ever be  the  method  by  which  it  is  reached,  will  unquestion- 
ably have  an  important  bearing  upon  such  a  question  as  this. 

2.  Consideration  with  McFadden  of  means  necessary  to 
enable  the  United  States  to  keep  its  agreement  with  the 
Swiss  Government  relative  to  wheat  shipments,  as  the  possi- 
ble failure  of  our  Government  to  do  this  may  involve  serious 
political  consequences  in  Switzerland  favorable  to  the  Ger- 
mans. Also  consideration  of  matter  of  Swiss  refrigerator  cars 
on  which  I  am  submitting  a  report  to  you. 

3.  Conference  with  Staff  of  General  Purchasing  Agent 
relative  to  promotions  in  the  office.  Was  notified  by  General 
Harbord,  by  telephone,  that  recommendation  for  promotion 
of  Captain  F.  W.  M.  Cutcheon  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  as  en- 
dorsed by  the  Commanding  General,  S.O.S.,  has  been  cabled 
to  Washington.  Considering  the  importance  of  their  duties 
and  the  greater  facilitation  of  their  work,  the  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  feels  that  Major  J.  P.  Jackson,  of  the  Labor 
Bureau,  Major  F,  E.  Drake,  of  the  Control  Bureau,  and  Cap- 
tain N.  D.  Jay,  Assistant  General  Purchasing  Agent,  should 
all  be  made  Lieutenant-Colonels.  He  hopes  that  upon  presen- 
tation of  the  situation  in  regard  to  these  officers,  which  he  ex- 
pects soon  to  make  to  the  Commanding  General,  S.O.S.,  the 
latter  will  make  a  recommendation  for  their  promotion. 

4.  Consideration  of  certain  matters  of  transport  supply  in 
connection  with  telegrams  from  the  Purchasing  Agent  in 
England  and  request  of  the  French  for  information. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  3,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  3: 

I.  Yesterday  afternoon,  as  representing  General  Pershing, 
discussed  with  M.Loucheur,  representing  M.^Clemenceau,  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  113 

matter  of  General  Pershing's  proposition  for  military  unifica- 
tion of  the  Allied  Services  of  Supply.  General  Pershing  re- 
turned from  Abbeville  late  last  night.  I  have  been  in  con- 
ference with  him  this  morning.  He  had  discussed,  with 
Lloyd  George  at  Abbeville  as  well  as  with  M.  Clemenceau, 
the  proposition.  Referring  to  my  suggestion  that  I  send  you 
report  of  my  conference  with  Loucheur,  the  General  re- 
quested me  not  to  do  so  until  the  matter  assumed  a  more 
definite  form.  He  stated  that  he  felt  you  would  be  pleased 
with  any  efforts  to  secure  further  coordination  with  our  allies. 

2.  The  French  and  English  have  expressed  approval  at 
Abbeville  of  General  Pershing's  plan  to  send  some  American 
troops  to  Italy  and  he  expects  to  do  so  by  degrees,  having 
ultimately  in  view  a  division. 

3.  Major  Jackson,  whom  I  had  sent  at  your  request  to  your 
Headquarters  to  discuss  form  of  labor  organization,  submitted 
suggestions  from  your  Stafif  officers.  These  I  wish  to  discuss 
with  Colonel  Smither,  who  arrives  to-morrow.  I  feel  that  the 
suggestion  made  by  your  Staff  officers  that  the  Organization 
Division  of  the  Labor  Bureau  be  moved  to  Tours  is  some- 
thing which  should  not  be  decided  under  any  circumstances 
until  I  have  had  a  conference  with  you.  I  have  such  confi- 
dence, however,  in  the  judgment  of  Colonel  Smither  that  I  am 
withholding  my  own  until  I  have  heard  from  him  in  person 
the  reasons  underlying  the  suggestion. 

4.  Conference  with  McFadden,  of  War  Trade  Board,  with 
reference  to  the  Swiss  situation  on  lumber,  wheat,  cotton,  and 
refrigerator  cars,  all  of  which  matters  are  having  attention. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colo7iel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  4,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supplies. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  4: 

I.  Consideration  of  memorandum  relative  to  labor  organi- 


114         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

zation  submitted  by  members  of  Staff  of  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  through 
Major  Jackson. 

2.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief,  who  was 
about  to  leave  the  city  for  a  few  days,  preliminary  to  con- 
ference to  be  held  at  ofifice  of  M.  Clemenceau  at  which  I  am  to 
represent  the  Commander-in-Chief.  The  thought  which  the 
Commander-in-Chief  has  is  to  have  applied  to  the  services  of 
the  Allied  rear  the  general  principles  involved  in  the  creation 
of  the  position  of  General  Purchasing  Agent  and  the  General 
Purchasing  Board  of  the  A.E.F.,  to  wit,  the  creation  of  a 
military  committee  from  the  three  armies  which  shall  collect 
and  coordinate  information  as  to  the  supply,  warehousing, 
construction,  and  transportation  of  the  three  armies  for  the 
purpose  of  their  more  intelligent  coordination  upon  the  basis 
of  their  use  by  the  unified  army  as  distinguished  from  three 
separate  armies.  The  proposition  is  one  of  coordination. 

3.  Conference  with  McFadden,  of  War  Trade  Board,  rela- 
tive to  Spanish  situation  and  cooperation  of  the  War  Trade 
Board  with  the  A.E.F.  in  this  connection. 

4.  Consideration  of  certain  matters  of  Board  of  Contracts 
and  Adjustments  and  consultation  with  Captain  Cutcheon 
relative  to  his  proposed  trip  to  Italy,  where  he  will  go  as 
the  representative  not  only  of  the  A.E.F. ,  but  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  Treasury  Department.  Now  that  the  Com- 
mander in-Chief  has  decided  to  send  troops  to  Italy,  Captain 
Cutcheon  thus  equipped  should  accomplish  our  purposes  in 
connection  with  securing  militarized  labor.  If  we  do  get  this 
labor  I  feel  that  we  have  certainly  earned  it  considering  the 
difficulties  we  have  encountered.  I  shall  ask  for  orders  foi 
Captain  Cutcheon  to  go  to  Italy  in  a  short  time. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

The  necessity  of  military  unification  of  the  Allied  Services 
of  Supply  and  Transportation,  to  correspond  with  the  mili- 
tary unification  now  existing  at  the  front,  being  recognized, 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  115 

the  following  are  suggestions  as  to  the  machinery  through 
which  it  should  be  reached.  The  principles  involved  in  these 
suggestions  are  those  established  by  General  Pershing  in  the 
creation  of  the  position  of  General  Purchasing  Agent  and  the 
establishment  of  the  General  Purchasing  Board  of  the  A.E.F., 
which  has  unified  the  American  army  system  of  purchase  and 
supply  through  cession  of  certain  independent  authorities  to  a 
central  control: 

(i)  Board  of  "Military  Control,  Allied  Service  of  Supply," 
consisting  of  one  representative  each  from  the  French, 
British,  and  American  armies.  The  Chairman  of  this 
Board,  while  his  decisions  should  be  made  in  consulta- 
tion with  the  other  two  members  of  the  Board,  should 
have  complete  military  authority  to  determine  its 
action.  His  decisions  would  be  authoritatively  con- 
veyed for  compliance  therewith  by  the  three  armies 
through  the  three  members  of  the  Board  in  the  ordinary 
military  channels. 
(2)  The  three  members  of  the  Board  would  each  select  from 
their  respective  army  services  a  small  staff  to  collect 
and  coordinate  information  jointly  as  to  the  present 
status  and  requirements  of  the  supplies,  warehousing, 
construction,  and  transportation  of  the  three  armies  in 
order  to  enable  the  Board  to  determine  their  intelligent 
coordination  upon  the  basis  of  their  use  by  the  unified 
army  as  distinguished  from  three  separate  armies. 
The  institution  of  this  system  should  involve  no  sudden 
shock  to,  or  unnecessary  interference  with,  the  present  sepa- 
rate  activities  of  the  Services  of  Supply  of  the  three  armies. 

If  apprehension  is  felt  that  this  central  military  authority 
might  in  certain  matters  interfere  unwisely  and  without 
sufficient  regard  for  the  preservation  of  the  internal  discipline 
and  esprit  de  corps  of  the  respective  armies,  it  might  be 
agreed  that  this  authority  would  not  concern  itself  with  cer- 
tain matters  —  for  instance,  such  as  uniforming  and  ration- 
ing —  except  in  an  advisory  way.  In  most  matters,  however, 


ii6         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

the  activities  of  this  Board  quietly,  conservatively,  but 
firmly  commenced,  would  probably  soon  effect  most  impor- 
tant results  tending  to  the  eventual  unification  of  the  Military 
Supply  and  Transportation  Services  of  the  Allied  rear,  in- 
cluding the  more  eff'ective  use  of  that  portion  of  international 
shipping  allocated  to  military  purposes. 

May  6,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  5: 

1.  Conference  on  labor  matters. 

2.  Conference  with  A.  Van  de  Vyvere,  Minister  of  Finance 
for  Belgium,  relative  to  coordination  of  Belgian  Army  system 
of  supply  with  Allies. 

3.  Consideration  of  suggestions  of  General  Pershing  to  be 
presented  at  meeting  arranged  by  General  Pershing  at  office 
of  Minister  of  Armament  Monday  afternoon  with  English 
and  French  representatives. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  7,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  6: 

I.  At  three  o'clock  met  in  conference  President  of  the 
French  Council  of  Ministers  and  representative  of  French 
Staff,  representing  the  French,  and  General  Cowans,  General 
Atkins,  General  Cannot,  Sir  Andrew  Weir,  and  Sir  J.  W. 
Curry,  representing  the  English,  in  a  discussion  of  the  ques- 
tion of  the  military  unification  of  the  Allied  Services  of  Supply 
presented  by  General  Pershing  to  the  Prime  Ministers  of 
England  and  France  and  accepted  by  them  in  principle.  I 
regret  to  state  that  chiefly  because  of  the  attitude  of  the 
English  this  conference  developed  largely  a  discussion  of  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  117 

difficulties  connected  with  the  adoption  of  a  principle  ac- 
cepted as  correct  by  all  rather  than  of  a  plan  to  carry  it  into 
effect.  The  English  desired  to  consult  their  Government 
further  in  connection  with  the  matter  and  an  adjournment 
was  had  of  the  meeting  until  later  in  the  week.  The  G.P.A. 
is  endeavoring  to  carry  out  as  best  he  can  the  instructions  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  with  whom  he  is  in  touch  by  tele- 
phone and  through  correspondence.  In  brief,  as  indicated  in 
general  outline  before  given  you,  the  General's  plan  is  for  a 
Military  Committee  of  Control  upon  which  will  be  represent- 
atives of  the  three  armies  with  authority  to  carry  into  effect 
those  measures  of  coordination  which  seem  advisable.  While 
General  Pershing's  idea  is  that  there  should  be  one  man  in 
supreme  control  of  the  Allied  Services  of  Supply  to  match 
the  unified  command  of  the  front,  the  situation  is  complex 
and  involves  such  considerations  on  the  part  of  the  three 
Governments  involved  that  the  tendency  is  to  overlook  the 
more  simple  steps  now  possible  to  be  taken  without  involving 
any  readjustment  of  the  internal  administrative  machinery  of 
the  respective  Governments.  So  far  as  the  first  conference 
is  concerned  it  became  enshrouded  so  in  the  fog  of  Eng- 
lish objection  that  it  will  take  an  additional  meeting  to  dis- 
sipate it  and  get  back  to  the  starting-point  for  proper  nego- 
tiations. 

2.  Consideration  of  labor  matters. 

3.  Consideration  of  matters  of  Board  of  Contracts  and 
Adjustments,  particularly  in  reference  to  method  of  settle- 
ment for  Russian  material  being  apportioned  between  the 
Allies. 

4.  Consideration  of  the  general  questions  of  amount  of  ton- 
nage purchased  by  the  A.E.F.  in  Europe  not  subject  to  re- 
placement upon  which  we  shall  soon  be  able  to  make  you  an 
additional  report. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


ii8    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

May  8,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  7  and  8: 

1.  Conference  on  labor  organization. 

2.  Conference  with  Captain  Cutcheon,  Board  of  Contracts 
and  Adjustments,  relative  to  his  proposed  trip  to  Italy  as 
representing  the  Treasury  Department  and  the  A.E.F. 

3.  Conference  with  Chief  Statistician  in  connection  with 
method  of  classifying  information,  for  more  intelligent  con- 
sideration, in  connection  with  coordination  with  our  allies. 

4.  The  bulk  of  yesterday  and  to-day  has  been  given  by  the 
General  Purchasing  Agent  to  the  consideration  of  the  best 
method  of  presentation  to  the  Allied  Conference  of  the  plan 
of  the  Commander-in-Chief  for  military  unification  of  the 
Allied  Services  of  Supply.  He  has  prepared  a  statement  to  M. 
Jeanneney,  President  of  the  French  Council  of  Ministers  and 
Chairman  of  the  Inter-Allied  Conference,  which  he  to-day 
sent  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  for  revision,  alteration,  and 
suggestion.  Upon  its  return,  after  making  any  alterations 
suggested  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  he  will  forward  copy 
to  the  C.G.,  S.O.S. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A, 

May  II,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  9,  10, 
and  1 1 : 

1.  Completion  of  letter  to  M.  Jeanneney,  relative  to 
machinery  for  effecting  military  unification  of  the  Allied 
Services  of  Supply,  which  letter  was  revised  and  modified  by 
the  Commander-in-Chief  and  copy  sent  you  yesterday. 

2.  The  time  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  has  been  given 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  119 

the  last  few  days  chiefly  to  these  negotiations.  This  morn- 
ing, May  II,  attended  a  conference  at  the  office  of  M.  Lou- 
cheur,  which  was  attended  by  M.  Loucheur,  M.  Clementel, 
French  Minister  of  Commerce,  and  Mr.  Paul  D.  Cravath, 
at  which  was  discussed  the  relation  of  General  Pershing's 
plan,  if  adopted,  to  the  functions  of  certain  inter-Allied 
civil  and  semi-military  boards.  The  General  Purchasing 
Agent  stated  that  General  Pershing's  plan,  while  suggesting 
the  desirability  of  the  extension  of  the  principle  over  civil 
activities,  was  expected  to  be  confined  in  its  first  application 
to  the  activities  now  conducted  under  complete  military 
authority  in  the  rear  of  the  armies.  Since  any  other  extension 
of  the  plan  would  involve  authority  from  the  civil  Govern- 
ments concerned,  nothing  was  in  immediate  contemplation 
which  would  lessen  useful  activities  of  these  boards  along  their 
present  lines  in  liaison  with  military  authority.  On  the  con- 
trary, the  more  intelligent  delineation  of  the  necessities  of  the 
united  armies  in  France  could  be  given  them  in  organizing 
their  assisting  activities. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  14,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  12, 13,  and  14: 

1 .  Conference  on  Italian  labor  situation  and  general  labor 
matters. 

2.  More  complete  centralization  of  English  purchases  and 
requisitions  through  the  Office  of  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent  and  his  representative  in  London. 

3.  Matters  of  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments. 

4.  Conference  with  Colonel  Maud  and  Captain  Williams, 
of  the  English  army,  relative  to  diplomatic  and  supply  situa- 
tion in  Spain,  and  discussion  of  plan  for  unification  of  Allied 
activities  in  Spain. 


120        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

5.  Conference  with  Colonel  Smither  and  Major  McAdam, 
of  your  Staff,  relative  to  labor  organization  and  other  matters 
of  general  administration,  covering  most  of  the  afternoon  of 
the  13th. 

6.  Conference  on  labor  matters  continued  with  Colonel 
Smither  and  Labor  Organization. 

7.  Preparation  for  presentation  of  General  Pershing's  plan 
at  Inter-Allied  Conference  which  will  be  held  at  three  o'clock 
this  afternoon  at  the  office  of  the  President  of  the  Council. 
Report  to  you  on  the  proceedings  at  this  meeting  will  be  made 
in  due  course.  It  is  hoped  by  the  General  Purchasing  Agent 
that  some  progress  may  be  effected. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  16,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  15; 

1.  Conference  with  General  Rogers. 

2.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization. 

3.  Conference  with  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments. 

4.  Conference  with  Major  Drake,  Chairman  of  Technical 
Board. 

5.  Conference  with  Colonel  de  Grailly,  representing  M. 
Loucheur,  Minister  of  Armament,  relative  to  method  of  dis- 
tributing American  munitions  along  the  front,  in  relation  to 
French  supplies  and  method  of  handling.  Wired  Colonel 
Moseley,  of  General  Staff,  to  come  to  Paris  for  conference  on 
Thursday  afternoon  with  M.  Loucheur,  French  officers  from 
the  front,  and  the  General  Purchasing  Agent,  to  be  held  at 
four  o'clock.  This  action  was  taken  because  of  telegram  from 
Colonel  Moseley  asking  for  advice  in  connection  with  the 
method  of  handling  American  munitions  in  conjunction  with 
the  French. 

6.  Consideration  of  matter  of  general  military  coordination 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  FRANCIS  E.  DRAKE 
Chief  of  Control  Bureau,  Office  of  General  Purchasing  Agent 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  121 

with  the  French  preparatory  to  discussing  same  with  the 
Commander-in-Chief  on  Friday. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  19,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  16,  17,  18, 
and  19: 

1.  My  time  for  the  most  part  during  these  days  has  been 
given  to  the  furtherance  of  General  Pershing's  plan  for  general 
supply  coordination.  In  this  connection  I  have  had  a  number 
of  meetings  and  conferences  with  M.  Loucheur,  French 
ofificers  from  the  front,  Controleur  General  de  I'Administra- 
tion  de  TArmee,  Colonel  Moseley,  of  the  General  Staff,  Gen- 
eral Langfitt,  and  the  Commander-in-Chief.  The  results  of 
these  conferences  are  summed  up  in  my  report  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, enclosed  herewith,  at  the  conclusion  of 
which  you  will  find  epitomized  the  plan  agreed  upon.  This 
report  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  was  passed  upon  and  ap- 
proved by  M.  Loucheur  and  is  being  submitted  by  him  to  M. 
Clemenceau.  It  is  still  barely  possible  that  as  a  result  of  the 
conference  between  Loucheur  and  Clemenceau  some  minor 
alterations  may  be  made.  The  report  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  was  also  submitted  to  him  informally  before  its  com- 
pletion and  the  statements  therein  checked  and  revised. 

2.  The  Commander-in-Chief  tells  me  that  he  will  appoint 
me  as  the  representative  of  the  army  on  the  Inter-Allied  Board 
according  to  the  plan  given  in  the  enclosed  report,  relieving 
me  as  General  Purchasing  Agent  and  making  me  a  member  of 
the  coordination  section  of  the  General  Staff  to  act  as  an 
Assistant  Chief  of  Staff.  The  sphere  of  my  activities  will  be  in 
the  line  of  coordination  with  the  French  army  and  the  Eng- 
lish army,  if  the  latter  Government  joins  in  the  plan.  As  I 
told  General  Langfitt,  I  shall  come  to  Tours  in  order  to  dis- 


122    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

cuss  the  general  plan  of  the  organization  which  must  be  built 
up  in  conjunction  with  the  French  to  study  jointly  the  prob- 
lems of  cooperation,  thus  affording  the  proper  foundation  for 
intelligent  action  as  soon  as  General  Pershing  issues  the  orders 
putting  the  plan  into  effect.  The  Commanding  General, 
S.O.S.,  realizes  from  the  papers  sent  him,  which  outline  fully 
the  purposes  contemplated  by  this  organization,  that  my 
relation  to  the  independent  organization  of  the  American 
Services  of  Supply  is  analogous  to  my  relation  as  General 
Purchasing  Agent  to  the  independent  activities  and  authority 
of  the  purchasing  organizations  of  the  army;  in  other  words, 
that  I  am  concerned  only  in  the  coordination  of  our  supply 
activities  with  the  supply  activities  of  the  other  two  armies. 
From  the  French,  and  some  time  in  the  future  I  hope  from 
the  English  army,  I  shall  authoritatively  secure  that  informa- 
tion which,  matched  with  our  own,  will  enable  the  activities 
of  the  Allied  rear  to  be  conducted  with  a  common  purpose 
behind  a  united  front.  It  is  needless  to  say  that,  while  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  joint  action  of  the  Allied  armies  in  connec- 
tion with  coordination,  orders  will  have  to  be  issued  to  the 
respective  armies  through  me  as  a  member  of  the  Committee 
in  agreement  with  the  other  members,  in  reality  I  hold  myself 
to  be  simply  the  agent  for  carrying  out  the  plans  which  we  all 
think  wise  when  we  are  in  possession  of  this  joint  information. 
It  would  be  a  source  of  regret  to  me,  in  leaving  this  organiza- 
tion to  start  building  a  more  important  one,  if  I  felt  that  it 
tended  in  any  way  to  separate  me  from  common  purpose  and 
activity  with  you.  As  I  have  felt  in  the  past  the  strength  of 
your  strong  arm  in  protection  and  cooperation,  so  I  know  I 
shall  feel  it  in  the  future.  It  shall  be  my  purpose  to  keep  you  in 
the  same  full  touch  with  all  situations  in  the  future  that  I 
have  when  directly  reporting  to  you  in  the  past. 

3.  I  desire  earnestly  to  recommend  to  you,  as  mj'  successor 
as  General  Purchasing  Agent,  Colonel  E.  D.  Bricker.  Of  this 
I  spoke  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  yesterday  and  in  the  idea 
he  agrees.  The  success  of  the  office  of  the  General  Purchas- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  123 

ing  Agent  and  the  General  Purchasing  Board  depends  much 
upon  certain  qualities  in  its  head,  which  from  long  contact 
with  Colonel  Bricker  I  believe  he  possesses  in  a  marked  degree. 
While  it  will  be  necessary  for  me  to  take  with  me  certain  men 
out  of  this  organization,  as  essential  to  the  success  of  the  new 
organization  because  of  knowledge  acquired  in  this  office, 
I  shall  make  my  recommendations  in  this  connection  with  a 
view  of  not  lessening  the  efficiency  of  the  organization  which 
I  shall  hand  over  to  my  successor.  The  various  agencies  of 
this  office  which  we  have  established  in  Spain  and  Switzer- 
land, among  other  places,  require  in  their  administration  from 
here  the  closest  contact  wMth  the  diplomatic  agents  of  the 
United  States.  It  is  here  that  grave  and  embarrassing  mis- 
takes may  easily  be  made.  In  fact,  in  all  the  relations  of  this 
office  with  foreign  Governments  care  and  tact  as  well  as 
decision  are  essential.  I  shall  suggest,  therefore,  that  for  the 
present  the  Assistant  General  Purchasing  Agent,  Captain 
N.  D,  Jay,  formerly  Vice-President  of  the  Guaranty  Trust 
Company  of  New  York,  be  retained  in  his  present  position, 
although  I  shall  greatly  need  him  in  my  new  work.  It  is  in  this 
particular  work  of  our  relations  with  the  English,  French, 
Italian,  Swiss,  Spanish,  and  Portuguese  Governments  that 
Captain  Jay  will  render  my  successor  valuable  assistance. 

4.  I  shall  endeavor,  as  I  leave  this  position,  to  make  a  re- 
port on  the  present  status  of  the  office  in  as  condensed  form 
as  is  possible. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  24,  191 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  20,  21,  22, 
and  23: 

I .  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  has  been  engaged  in  an  ef- 
fort to  have  simplified  the  report  of  what  was  actually  agreed 


124    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

upon  at  the  Inter-Allied  Conference  regarding  military  unifi- 
cation of  the  Allied  Services  of  Supply,  so  that  when  it  was 
sent  to  the  English  the  adoption  of  the  principle  would  not  be 
endangered  by  an  attempt  at  the  preliminary  settlement  of 
the  details  through  which  it  would  be  put  into  operation.  The 
French  Government  submitted  to  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent  two  reports,  one  by  M.  Loucheur,  Minister  of  Arma- 
ment, and  one  by  M.  de  Lavit,  Controleur  General.  Both  of 
these  reports  seemed  open  to  the  above  objection.  The  Com- 
mander-in-Chief at  this  critical  time  intervened  with  his  usual 
good  judgment,  force,  and  success  and  obtained  from  M. 
Clemenceau  his  signature  to  a  simple  restatement  of  the  plan 
which  the  Commander-in-Chief  also  signed.  The  following  is 
a  copy  of  the  statement: 

Secret 

May  22,  191 8 

It  is  hereby  agreed  among  the  Allied  Governments  sub- 
scribing hereto: 

1.  That  the  principle  of  unification  of  military  supplies 
and  utilities  for  the  use  of  the  Allied  armies  is  adopted. 

2.  That  in  order  to  apply  this  principle  and  as  far  as  possi- 
ble coordinate  the  use  of  utilities  and  the  distribution  of  sup- 
plies among  the  Allied  armies,  a  Board  consisting  of  repre- 
sentatives of  each  of  the  Allied  armies  is  to  be  constituted  at 
once. 

3.  That  the  unanimous  decision  of  the  Board  regarding 
the  allotment  of  material  and  supplies  shall  have  the  force  of 
orders  and  be  carried  out  by  the  respective  supply  agencies. 

4.  That  further  details  of  the  organization  by  which  the 
above  plan  is  to  be  carried  out  shall  be  left  to  the  Board,  sub- 
ject to  such  approval  by  the  respective  Governments  as  may 
at  any  time  seem  advisable. 

We  agree  to  the  above  and  wish  it  to  be  submitted  to  the 
British  and  Italian  Governments. 

(Signed)     G.  Clemenceau 
John  J.  Pershing 

2.  The  Commander-in-Chief  to-day  telephoned  the  Gen- 
eral Purchasing  Agent  that  he  would  notify  M.  Clemenceau  of 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  125 

his  appointment  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  as  a  member 
of  the  Board  provided  by  the  plan.  The  General  Purchasing 
Agent  as  early  as  possible  will  confer  with  the  French  as  to 
the  means  of  joint  procedure,  of  which  he  will  notify  you. 

3.  Through  reliable  sources  the  General  Purchasing  Agent 
is  informed  that  such  opposition  as  seems  to  exist  on  the  part 
of  the  English  to  joining  in  the  arrangement  centers  in  Lieu- 
tenant-General  Cowans,  British  Quartermaster-General.  How 
such  opposition  on  his  part  can  continue  with  the  provision 
that  the  Committee  cannot  act  except  by  unanimous  consent 
is  difficult  to  understand.  The  wisdom  and  desirability  of  the 
plan  seem  to  be  urged  by  the  principal  English  authorities 
with  few  exceptions. 

4.  The  Commander-in-Chief  informed  the  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  by  telephone  that  he  would  transmit  the  plan 
as  agreed  upon  by  M.  Clemenceau  and  himself  to  Lloyd 
George.  The  representative  of  Lord  Northcliflfe  serving  on  his 
mission  here  called  upon  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  with 
the  statement  that  Lord  Northcliffe  would  do  everything  in 
his  power  to  aid  in  having  the  plan  adopted  by  the  English. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

May  25,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  May  24  and  25: 
I  received  a  telephone  message  yesterday  evening  from 
General  McAndrew,  Chief  of  Staff,  stating  that  General 
Pershing  desired  me  to  go  to  England  in  response  to  sugges- 
tions from  there  that  my  presence  might  facilitate  English 
cooperation  in  plan  for  coordination  of  the  Allied  Services 
of  Supply.  Accordingly  I  wired  for  telegraphic  orders  to  that 
effect  to-day  and  am  preparing  to  leave  to-morrow.  I  am 
enclosing  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  have  written  to  Colonel 
Moseley,  who  sent  me  a  copy  of  his  letter  to  you  relative  to 


126    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

the  Transportation  Department  and  the  matter  of  decentrali' 
zation.  The  matter  was  brought  to  my  attention  simply  as  ar. 
expression  of  certain  principles  by  Colonel  Moseley,  but  since 
my  comments  are  somewhat  personal  to  yourself  I  thought 
you  would  be  interested  in  seeing  them. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  4,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  during  the  period 
May  26  to  June  4,  inclusive: 

1.  My  absence  in  England,  where  I  was  sent  by  General 
Pershing  in  connection  with  the  securing  of  the  acquiescence 
of  that  Government  in  his  plan  for  coordination  of  the  Allied 
Ser\'ices  of  Supply,  and  conferences  in  which  I  have  been  en- 
gaged since  my  return,  have  interfered  with  my  daily  report 
of  activities.  The  explanation  I  was  able  to  give  to  the  Eng- 
lish Prime  Minister  and  Lieutenant-General  Cowans,  British 
Quartermaster-General,  as  well  as  to  Lord  Milner,  of  the 
British  War  Office,  of  the  purpose  and  scope  of  General 
Pershing's  plan,  led  to  the  acceptance  of  it  by  that  Govern- 
ment. Yesterday  at  Versailles  the  War  Council  officially  ap- 
proved the  plan.  The  participation  of  the  Italians  and  Bel- 
gians will  also  be  asked. 

2.  At  a  conference  with  the  French  Minister  of  Armament 
yesterday,  the  necessity  having  developed  for  the  transfer 
of  munitions  from  certain  French  points  of  storage  endan- 
gered by  the  German  advance,  I  obtained  the  situation  and 
wired  the  same  upon  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  to 
you  for  attention  of  General  Wheeler.  The  latter  arrived  at 
Paris  last  night  and  conferred  with  the  French  at  my  office 
this  morning,  placing  at  their  disposal  such  storage  space  in 
the  American  rear  as  will  materially  relieve  their  situation. 

3.  Various  conferences  with  the  Bureau  Chiefs  of  this 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  127 

office'relative  to  current  activities.  I  have  to  report  in  this 
connection  that  we  shall  soon  receive  three  thousand  mili- 
tarized labor  troops  from  Italy  as  a  final  result  of  our  long 
negotiations  in  this  connection.  They  will  arrive  here  next 
week. 

4 .  My  time  is  entirely  given  to  consideration  of  the  methods 
of  procedure  in  connection  with  the  new  Military  Board  on 
which  the  Commander-in-Chief  has  named  me  as  the  member 
representing  him.  As  soon  as  the  French  have  named  their 
representative  it  will  be  possible  to  consider  these  plans  more 
in  detail,  and  as  soon  as  they  take  form  I  shall  come  to  Tours 
with  your  permission  for  consultation  with  you. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  6,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  5  and  6: 

1.  Conference  with  General  Wheeler,  Chief  of  Ordnance. 
Attended  conference  held  by  him  with  French  officials  of 
Ministere  de  I'Armement,  relative  to  coordination  with  the 
French  of  programme  of  establishment  of  munition  depots. 

2.  Conference  with  English  officers  relative  to  method  of 
organization  of  Inter-Allied  Board  for  general  supply  coordi- 
nation. 

3.  Conference  with  Colonel  de  Grailly,  representative  of 
M.  Loucheur,  Minister  of  Armament,  on  plan  of  organization 
for  supply  coordination. 

4.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization  with  reference  to 
reception  and  care  of  Italian  militarized  labor,  the  Italian  of- 
ficer in  charge  of  same  being  present. 

5.  Conference  with  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments 
relative  to  payments  to  French  Government,  increase  of 
available  cash  balances  in  France  for  American  army,  and 
general  expediting  of  contract  settlements. 


128    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

6.  Conference  in  regard  to  Spanish  supply  situation.  We 
have  reorganized  upon  a  more  efficient  basis  our  supply-gather- 
ing organization  in  this  country  as  well  as  in  Switzerland. 

7.  Consideration  of  telegram,  referred  to  this  department 
by  Colonel  Logan,  from  War  Department  giving  outline  of 
reorganization  of  supply  and  purchase  system  of  War  De- 
partment and  asking  for  information  as  to  our  system  here. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  8,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  7: 

1.  Attended  conference  between  Colonel  Logan  and  Gen- 
eral Lerond,  Deputy  Chief  of  Staff  to  General  Foch,  relative  to 
the  imperative  need  of  horses  in  order  to  put  American  artil- 
lery into  action.  Colonel  Logan  was  notified  that  the  French 
would  furnish  eighty  thousand  horses  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

2.  Matters  connected  with  Technical  Board.  Appointed 
members  thereof  and  assigned  duties  as  recommended  by 
Major  Drake. 

3.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization  and  consideration 
of  various  matters  —  rationing,  discipline,  care,  and  trans- 
portation. 

4.  Conference  with  Morrow,  of  United  States  Shipping 
Board,  and  McFadden,  of  War  Trade  Board. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  9,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  8: 

Day  devoted  to  conferences  and  plans  for  labor  organiza- 
tion and  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments;  consideration 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  129 

of  statement  of  purchase  organization  of  the  A.E.F.  for  trans- 
mittal to  the  War  Department,  copy  of  which  I  am  sending 
you,  and  matter  of  financial  requirements  of  the  A.E.F.  to 
December  31. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  II,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  9  and  10 : 

1.  Conference  with  General  Hagood,  Chief  of  Staff  to  C.G., 
S.O.S. 

2.  Conference  with  Chief  Statistician,  General  Purchasing 
Board. 

3.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization.  Arrangements 
made  for  meeting  with  M.  Tardieu  and  M.  Ganne  in  connec- 
tion with  request  upon  French  for  additional  assignment  of 
five  thousand  laborers. 

4.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  relative  to 
plan  for  coordination  of  Allied  Supply.  Commander-in-Chief 
has  been  notified  of  the  appointment  on  the  Board  of  Colonel 
Beadon  to  represent  the  English  army. 

5.  Conference  with  McFadden,  of  War  Trade  Board, 
relative  to  situation  in  Spain  regarding  shipment  of  sup- 
plies. 

6.  Conference  with  Colonel  Godson,  Military  Attache  at 
Berne,  relative  to  supply  situation  in  Switzerland  and  pur- 
chasing organization  there. 

7.  Conference  with  Major  Griscom,  who  was  on  his  way  to 
represent  the  Commander-in-Chief  in  England,  relative  to 
English  cooperation  in  the  plan  for  Allied  coordination  of 
Services  of  Supply. 

8.  In  conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  the  matter 
of  relation  of  the  member  of  the  Board  on  Allied  Supply 
coordination  to  army  organization  was  discussed.  I  expressed 


130         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

the  view  that,  inasmuch  as  the  relation  of  the  Committee  to 
changes  of  poHcy  must  be  determined  in  practical  efTect 
jointly  by  the  opinion  of  the  independent  authorities  in  first 
contact  with  the  situation  in  the  respective  armies,  and  since 
the  conclusion  of  the  Board  must  be  based  upon  the  conclusion 
of  such  independent  authorities  in  contact,  it  would  be  unwise 
to  make  any  attempt  at  a  formal  statement  of  official  rela- 
tions until  after  the  formation  of  the  Board  and  the  considera- 
tion by  it  of  methods  of  its  own  procedure.  So  far  as  I  per- 
sonally am  concerned,  my  relations  with  the  heads  of  the 
present  army  organization  are  such  that  no  formal  increase  in 
my  present  authority  seems  necessary  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  my  work  and  there  will  be  a  tendency  to  much  freer 
cooperation  on  the  part  of  the  heads  of  the  independent 
services  of  the  respective  armies  if  our  Board  is  regarded  by 
them  in  efifect  as  an  agency  to  put  into  operation  the  plan  for 
coordination  which  those  in  first  contact  with  conditions  are 
best  qualified  to  formulate.  The  issuing  of  formal  orders 
especially  at  this  time  prescribing  an  official  status  might 
create  apprehensions  that  an  exercise  of  arbitrary  authority 
was  in  contemplation,  which  is  not  the  case,  and  which  might 
lessen  the  complete  spirit  of  cooperation  involving  full  and 
free  discussion  of  what  is  wise  without  reservation  and  with- 
out apprehension  that  interference  with  internal  administra- 
tion is  at  stake.  The  Commander-in-Chief  stated  that  he 
would  reserve  any  decision  upon  this  matter  until  after  the 
formal  organization  of  the  Board  when  the  proper  course  of 
procedure  would  be  more  evident.  It  was  agreed  that  I 
should  remain  at  the  head  of  this  organization  as  Chairman 
of  the  General  Purchasing  Board  and  General  Purchasing 
Agent  until  such  time,  if  it  should  come,  that  the  work  of  the 
new  place  would  interfere  with  my  proper  attention  to  the 
policies  and  business  of  this  department  of  the  administrative 
Staff.  My  idea  is  that  the  new  Board  should  refrain  from  the 
consideration  of  details  as  much  as  possible,  since  participa- 
tion in  the  machinery  involving  the  method  of  effecting  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  131 

principles  of  inter-Allied  army  coordination  would  lessen 
rather  than  increase  its  efficiency,  such  machinery  as  is 
adapted  for  the  purpose  being  already  in  existence  under  its 
proper  head,  who  must  not  feel  that  his  independent  au- 
thority is  lessened,  but  only  made  more  intelligently  effective 
through  the  increased  knowledge  of  the  general  situation 
which  his  contact  with  the  Board  will  give  him. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  12,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  1 1  and  12 : 

1.  Conference  with  the  Commanding  General,  S.O.S. 

2.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization. 

3.  Conference  on  horse  situation  with  Colonel  Williams 
and  the  members  of  the  office.  Wired  suggestion  to  General 
Rogers  relative  to  additional  detail  of  officers  in  Spain  in  this 
connection. 

4.  Conference  with  M.  Tardieu  and  M.  Ganne,  of  French 
Government,  relative  to  assignment  by  the  French  of  addi- 
tional laborers  to  the  A.E.F.  Presented  full  statement  to 
them  of  our  present  labor  situation.  Made  request  for  addi- 
tional cession  of  five  thousand  laborers.  Also  discussed  with 
them  nomination  of  French  member  of  Allied  Supply  Board. 
In  addition  made  request  for  immediate  French  representa- 
tion at  conference  to  discuss  warehouse  situation. 

5.  Conference  with  Stanley  Field,  of  the  Red  Cross,  rela- 
tive to  Red  Cross  supplies  in  Paris.  As  a  result  Red  Cross 
offered  immediate  cession  of  twenty  thousand  bags  of  flour 
which  matter  was  turned  over  to  Colonel  Krauthoff  for  his 
action. 

6.  Conference  relative  to  removal  of  records  and  docu- 
ments, personnel,  etc.,  of  General  Purchasing  Board  in  case  of 
continued  German  advance,  the  French  having  requested 


132    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

that  arrangements  be  made  for  the  same  to  provide  for  all 
possible  contingencies. 

7.  Conference  with  General  Patrick  relative  to  aircraft 
situation. 

8.  Conference  with  Hurst,  American  Consul-General  at 
Barcelona,  relative  to  Spanish  supply  situation. 

9.  Conference  with  Major  Cabot  Ward  and  his  assistant  on 
intelligence  matters  and  proper  protection  of  records  in  this 
building. 

10.  Conference  with  Colonel  Maud,  of  the  English  army, 
relative  to  supply  coordination. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colo?iel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  14, 1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply, 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  13  and  14: 

1.  Held  conference  with  Ministers  Villagran  and  De  Lavit, 
Commissioner  Tardleu,  M.  Ganne,  and  Colonel  Payot  relative 
to  the  nomination  by  the  French  of  their  member  on  the 
Board  of  Allied  Supply.  Conference  lasted  throughout  the 
morning  and  ended  in  agreement  by  the  French  officials 
present  to  unanimously  recommend  to  M.  Clemenceau  the 
appointment  of  Colonel  Payot  as  representing  the  French 
army  on  the  Board. 

2.  Conference  with  Minister  Villagran  on  the  matter  of 
hay  for  American  horses  and  also  conference  with  Colonel 
Krauthoff  on  the  same  subject. 

3.  Conference  as  to  the  situation  on  animal  supply  In  Spain 
in  connection  with  telegrams  received  from  Colonel  Logan, 
G.H.Q.,  requesting  cooperation  of  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent. 

4.  Conference  with  M.  Kreglinger,  Directeur  General, 
Ministre  Intendance  Belglque,  and  Commandant  Dupont,  of 
the  Cabinet  du  Ministre  de  la  Guerre  de  Belgique,  in  con- 


MAJOR-GENERAL  H.  L.  ROGERS 
Quartermaster-General  A.E.F. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  133 

nection  with  representation  on  the  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 
The  Belgian  Government  expressed  acquiescence  in  the  plan 
proposed  by  General  Pershing  and  will  nominate  a  repre- 
sentative. 

5.  Conference  with  McFadden,  Colonel  KrauthofT,  and 
Captain  Jay  relative  to  closer  liaison  between  the  Quarter- 
master Department,  A.E.F.,  and  the  French  service  of  food 
•supply.  Colonel  Krauthoflf  will  make  report  on  the  matters 
involved  to  the  Chief  Quartermaster,  A.E.F. 

6.  Conference  with  the  Labor  Organization.  The  first 
contingent  of  Italian  militarized  labor  has  arrived  in  France. 

7.  Conference  with  Colonel  Maud,  of  the  English  army,  on 
the  Spanish  supply  situation. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  15,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  14,  con- 
tinued, and  June  15: 

1.  Conference  with  Colonel  Moseley,  General  Staff,  with 
reference  to  inter-Allied  plan  for  general  coordination  muni- 
tion programme, 

2.  Conference  with  General  Langfitt  and  Colonel  Smither. 

3.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization  relative  to  Italian 
labor  and  facilities  for  housing  laborers  at  different  points, 
to  which  we  are  calling  attention  in  another  communication. 

4.  Conference  with  Colonel  Krauthofif  and  members  of  our 
organization  here  relative  to  proper  centralization  of  our 
business  with  the  ofifice  of  the  Chief  of  the  Service  for  Food- 
stuffs, other  than  cereals,  at  the  French  Food  Ministry. 
Attention  is  called  to  my  letter  to  you  of  to-day  outlining  the 
necessity  for  greater  centralization  in  the  matter  of  presenting 
our  demands  to  the  French  Service  for  Foodstuffs  and  the 
arrangements,  which,  in  conference  wnth  M.  Rabel,  we  have 


134    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

made  for  the  same.  The  issuance  of  orders  on  this  important 
matter  I  am  asking  in  the  letter. 

5.  Conference  with  Red  Cross  officials  relative  to  violation 
of  orders  by  them  in  connection  with  their  supply  purchases, 

6,  Conference  on  the  hay  question  between  Colonel 
Krauthoff  and  M,  Rabel,  Chief  of  the  Service  for  Foodstuffs, 
other  than  cereals,  at  the  French  Food  Ministry,  arranged  by 
me  at  the  instance  of  Colonel  Logan,  General  Staff,  has  re- 
sulted in  assurance  by  the  French  Government  that  they  will 
furnish  the  hay  necessary  for  the  A,E.F.  animals  for  a  period 
covering  one  year  from  August  i,  191 8,  thus  making  unneces- 
sary any  additional  hay  requisitions  on  the  United  States. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  17,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following   is  a   report  of   my  activities  on  June   16 
and  17: 

1.  Conference  with  Colonel  Cutcheon,  Board  of  Contracts 
and  Adjustments,  relative  to  settlement  with  the  English 
Government  of  cost  of  maintenance  of  American  troops 
stationed  with  them,  and  on  general  matters  of  financial 
organization. 

2.  Conference  with  Major  Bacon,  American  liaison  officer 
at  British  Headquarters,  relative  to  matters  connected  with 
the  new  Board  on  Allied  Supply. 

3.  Conference  with  Colonel  Maud,  of  the  English  army,  on 
Allied  Supply  matter. 

4.  The  Commander-in-Chief,  by  telephone,  ordered  me  to 
leave  for  General  Headquarters  this  noon  and  to  bring  Mr. 
McFadden,  of  the  War  Trade  Board,  with  me  for  conference. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  135 

June  21,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  17,  18,  19, 

20,  and  2 1 : 

1.  At  the  direction  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  left  for 
Chaumont  on  afternoon  of  June  17  and  attended  conference 
which  he  held  at  his  office  on  the  morning  of  June  18,  of  which 
you  know  all  the  details,  having  been  present. 

2.  During  afternoon  of  June  18  at  conference  with  the 
Commander-in-Chief  he  prepared  the  order  announcing  the 
establishment  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  and  my 
appointment  as  a  member  thereof  representing  the  A.E.F. 

3.  Left  Chaumont  on  the  morning  of  June  19  and  pro- 
ceeded to  French  General  Headquarters,  where  I  met  Colonel 
Payot,  the  French  representative  on  the  Military  Board  of 
Allied  Supply,  and  talked  over  with  him  the  proposed  plan  of 
organization  of  Board.  Arrived  at  Paris  in  the  evening. 

4.  On  June  20  had  conference  with  Red  Cross  officials  on 
correction  of  situation  in  connection  with  unauthorized  pur- 
chases, as  indicated  by  attached  copy  of  letter  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief. Copy  of  letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chief 
on  Red  Cross  Supplies  also  attached. 

5.  Conference  on  the  matter  of  purchasing  organization  in 
England.  General  Headquarters  having  issued  orders  neces- 
sitating the  reorganization  of  the  office  of  the  purchasing 
agent  for  England  took  the  matter  up  with  General  Head- 
quarters and  recommended  the  issuance  of  orders  relieving 
the  present  purchasing  agent  for  England  and  naming  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel H.  M.  Byllesby,  A.S.S.C.,  in  his  place.  A 
telegram  was  sent  to  the  purchasing  agent  for  England  or- 
dering the  suspension  of  any  work  in  connection  with  a 
change  in  the  organization  which  will  proceed  under  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Byllesby. 

6.  Conference  with  Commandant  Varaigne,  of  the  French 


136        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Mission.  Transmitted  through  him  to  M.  Tardieu  the  re- 
quest of  the  Commander-in-Chief  that  representations  be 
made  to  M.  Clemenceau  relative  to  Belgian  representation  on 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  This  arrangement  will  be 
made. 

7.  Consideration  of  new  order  to  purchasing  ofificers  of  Red 
Cross  to  be  issued  by  the  head  of  that  organization. 

8.  Conferences  over  telephone  with  Colonel  Moseley  and 
Colonel  Logan  relative  to  business  with  their  Staff  Depart- 
ments. 

9.  Conference  with  General  Rogers  relative  to  matter  of  a 
different  method  of  appointing  officers  for  the  Army  Service 
Corps  rather  than  by  commissioning  them  in  Quartermaster 
Corps.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  has  wired  to  you  to- 
day asking  orders  to  report  at  Tours.  The  plan  suggested  by 
you  at  Chaumont,  and  approved  by  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
that  these  officers  be  commissioned  direct  in  the  National 
Army  is  essential  to  the  highest  efficiency  of  our  Labor 
Organization,  and  it  is  in  connection  with  the  immediate  adop- 
tion of  this  plan  of  procedure  that  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent  desires  to  confer  with  you  at  Tours  to-morrow.  At  the 
present  time  we  need  144  officers  and  1050  enlisted  men  to 
properly  man  the  labor  already  recruited.  We  have  available 
for  this  purpose  only  63  officers  and  609  enlisted  men.  This 
great  need  for  officers  to  handle  labor  companies  in  the  field 
can  be  met  only  by  the  adoption  of  your  suggestion. 

10.  Conference  with  Colonel  Townsend. 

11.  Conference  with  Colonel  Townsend  and  Colonel  Kraut- 
hoff  relative  to  devising  methods  of  presenting  matters  in- 
volving coordination  to  representatives  of  the  French  and 
English  armies  in  connection  with  the  organization  of  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 

12.  Conference  with  officers  of  Technical  Board  relative  to 
matters  of  power  installation  in  coordination  with  French. 

13.  Conference  with  Chief  Statistician,  Colonel  Byllesby, 
Major  Drake,  and  Staff  relative  to  relation  of  orders  issued  by 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  137 

General  Biddle  to  the  orders  issued  by  General  Headquarters 
covering  the  conduct  of  business  of  the  English  branch  of  the 
ofifice  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  25,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  22,  23,  24, 

and  25: 

1.  Under  orders  of  the  Commanding  General,  Services  of 
Supply,  left  Paris  for  Tours,  arriving  in  the  afternoon.  Had 
conference  with  yourself  regarding  matter  of  Board  of  Allied 
Supply,  London  purchasing  ofifice,  etc. 

2.  Conference  with  Colonel  Smither  and  Major  McAdams, 
finally  culminating  in  a  meeting  with  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  and  his 
Chief  of  StafT  in  the  evening,  at  which  time,  however,  a  con- 
ference was  not  held. 

3.  Arrived  Paris  on  Sunday  afternoon,  June  23. 

4.  Conference  on  wood  situation  with  Captain  Moore.  For 
purpose  of  further  negotiation  with  the  French  on  this  serious 
situation,  we  shall  probably  ask  for  the  presence  of  Major 
Hill  here  for  a  few  days  from  the  Headquarters,  S.O.S. 

5.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  H.  M.  Byllesby, 
whom  the  Commander-in-Chief  has  appointed  purchasing 
agent  for  England.    Also  conference  with  General  Patrick. 

6.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cutcheon,  Board  of 
Contracts  and  Adjustments,  on  matters  pertaining  to  that  or- 
ganization. Conference  with  Colonel  Townsend  relative  to 
London  purchasing  organization;  also  with  Major  Drake  in 
this  connection. 

7.  Consideration  of  methods  of  economy  in  use  of  horses 
at  the  front,  concerning  which  I  sent  memorandum  to  the 
Commander-in-Chief  prepared  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  R.  R. 
McCormick. 


138        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

8.  Conference  with  Mr.  McFadden  and  Dr.  Taylor,  of  the 
War  Trade  Board,  relative  to  consolidation  representation  of 
War  Trade  Board  and  General  Purchasing  Agent  in  Italy. 

9.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization;  also  conference 
with  Colonel  Carson  relative  to  manner  of  commissioning 
ofificers  therein. 

10.  The  first  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply 
will  be  held  at  my  office  on  Friday  afternoon,  June  26. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  27,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  26  and  27: 

1.  Conference  with  General  Winn  with  reference  to  space 
allotment  in  this  building  to  other  services. 

2.  Conference  on  wood  situation  with  Captain  Moore. 

3.  Conference  with  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments. 

4.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization. 

5.  Conference  with  Technical  Board.  Letter  goes  forward 
to  you  to-day  in  connection  with  matters  discussed. 

6.  Called  together  ofificers  of  Purchasing  Board  for  con^ 
ference  with  General  Winn  on  subject  of  space  allotment. 

7.  Called  members  of  General  Purchasing  Board  together 
for  conference  with  reference  to  pooling  of  local  automobiles. 

8.  Conference  with  Colonel  Payot,  representative  of 
French  army  on  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  The  closest 
understanding  exists  between  Colonel  Payot  and  myself,  and  I 
feel  that  there  will  be  the  fullest  degree  of  cooperation  between 
us  in  our  association  on  the  Board,  the  first  meeting  of  which 
has  been  called  by  the  French  Government  (notice  sent  by  M. 
Jeanneney,  Sous-Secretaire  d'Etat,  Pr^sidence  du  Conseil) 
for  3  P.M.  on  June  28  at  my  office.  Various  measures  of  possi- 
ble coordination  were  discussed  by  Colonel  Payot  and  myself 
as  preliminary  to  the  meeting  of  the  Board. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  139 

9.  Conference  with  Captain  Sanborn,  representative  of 
General  Purchasing  Agent  in  Spain. 

10.  Consideration  of  memorandum  to  be  presented  by  me 
at  first  meeting  of  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  requesting 
preparation  of  information  by  the  British,  French,  and  Amer- 
ican armies  which  will  be  needed  in  connection  with  consider- 
ation of  coordination  matters. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  29,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  28  and  29: 

1 .  Conference  in  the  morning  with  Colonel  Payot  and  mem- 
bers of  his  Staff  relative  to  matters  to  be  proposed  at  first 
meeting  of  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  to  be  held  in  the 
afternoon.  Communicated  the  substance  of  Payot's  proposals 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief  by  telephone  and  obtained  his 
approval  of  the  same.  The  proposals  were  along  the  line  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief's  purposes  and  plans.  Considered 
with  Colonel  Payot  fully  the  method  to  be  followed  and  ac- 
tions to  be  proposed  at  the  first  meeting. 

2.  The  first  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply 
was  held  at  these  offices  at  3  p.m.,  June  28,  with  Colonel 
Payot  representing  the  French  army,  Colonel  Beadon  repre- 
senting the  English  army.  General  Merrone  representing  the 
Italian  troops  in  France,  and  myself,  together  with  interpre- 
ters and  clerk,  present.  The  full  report  of  this  meeting  is  in 
process  of  preparation  and  will  be  mutually  agreed  upon  to- 
morrow morning.  When  finally  adopted  the  report  will  be 
sent  to  you.  For  your  information  and  to  be  read  in  connection 
with  the  report  I  enclose  you  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  am  to- 
day writing  to  the  Commander-in-Chief.  Your  careful  at- 
tention is  asked  to  this  letter,  as  in  it  I  discuss  the  relations 
of  the  work  of  the  Board  and  myself  to  you  as  Commanding 


140    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

General,  Services  of  Supply.  Another  meeting  of  the  Board 
was  agreed  upon  for  next  Tuesday.  The  plan  of  operations, 
as  discussed  by  Colonel  Payot  and  myself  and  communicated 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  was  adopted. 

3.  Conference  with  General  Rogers  relative  to  certain  rec- 
ommendations made  by  the  Board  of  Contracts  and  Ad- 
justments. 

4.  Conference  with  General  Langfitt. 

5.  Conference  with  French  Colonel  in  charge  of  French 
army  personnel  in  Paris. 

6.  Conference  with  Labor  Organization  in  connection  with 
importation  of  Tunisian  labor. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

June  29,  19 1 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:  The  Commander-in-Chief,  A.E.F. 
Subject:  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  was 
held  at  my  office  yesterday  afternoon.  Colonel  Payot  repre- 
senting the  French  army,  Colonel  Beadon  representing  the 
English  army.  General  Merrone  representing  the  Italian 
troops  in  France,  and  myself  representing  you,  were  present. 
We  managed  to  get  through  the  plan,  approved  by  you  in  the 
telephonic  conversation  I  had  with  you  in  the  morning,  in  the 
form  which  the  French  and  ourselves  desired.  From  the  min- 
utes of  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting,  which  will  be  sent  you 
as  soon  as  the  proces-verbal  is  agreed  upon  at  my  office  to- 
morrow morning,  you  will  know  how  extensive  is  the  field 
proposed  for  coordination.  Colonel  Payot,  in  accordance 
with  your  invitation  which  I  extended  to  him,  is  coming  to 
Chaumont  as  soon  as  you  return  there,  and  before  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Board  on  Tuesday  if  possible.  As  you  pre- 
dicted, now  that  the  Board  is  established  and  its  authority 
properly  defined,  we  are  not  subject  to  the  interminable  delays 


Ct  DAILY  REPORTS  141 

and  endless  discussions  involved  in  our  former  efforts  to  se- 
cure the  cession  of  independent  authority  for  use  in  a  common 
emergency.  The  proces-verbal  will  contain  so  complete  a 
statement  of  what  was  accomplished  that  I  shall  not  en- 
deavor to  recapitulate  it  here.  The  English  representative, 
Colonel  Bcadon,  proves  to  be  exactly  what  I  expected  in  view 
of  the  past  hesitation  of  the  English  Government  regarding 
this  measure  of  needed  cooperation,  due  not  at  all  to  any 
governmental  lack  of  an  earnest  desire  to  cooperate  to  the  last 
extreme,  but  to  the  fear  of  the  British  Quartermaster-General 
that  his  personal  authority  and  prerogatives  might  be  limited 
thereby.  He  exhibits  every  personal  desire  to  cooperate  in  the 
giving  of  material  assistance,  but  his  regard  for  his  own 
authority,  upon  which,  as  you  know,  there  is  no  intention  to 
encroach,  will  make  the  full  cooperation  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment, which  their  best  men  so  earnestly  desire,  somewhat 
uncertain  until  experience  has  taught  the  British  Quarter- 
master-General's Department  that  this  Board  cannot  act  in 
any  matters  relating  to  it  without  its  acquiescence.  Lord 
Milner  named  Colonel  Beadon  at  the  suggestion  of  General 
Cowans.  Beadon  offered  no  constructive  suggestions  what- 
ever, and  his  attitude  was  constantly  one  of  opposition  to 
matters  of  detail,  but  really  of  sincere  cooperation  in  the 
larger  things.  He  made  an  untactful  attack  upon  the  idea  of 
a  permanent  chairman,  advocating  the  principle  of  rotation, 
since  the  members  upon  the  Committee  are  of  equal  authority; 
he  also  objected  at  first  to  the  idea  of  a  permanent  staff  upon 
which  Payot  so  earnestly  insists.  When  he  seemed  indisposed 
to  concede  that  the  French  and  American  armies,  even  in 
matters  of  coordination  w^hich  primarily  concerned  themselves 
alone,  would  have  a  right  to  make  impro\-ements  by  mutual 
agreement  without  the  consent  of  the  British  member  of  the 
Board,  I  saw  here  my  opportunity  to  secure  his  acquiescence 
in  the  permanent  staff  idea,  and  stated  to  him  that  under  these 
circumstances  he  certainly  should  have  a  staff  present  to  w-atch 
and  keep  him  informed  of  any  negotiations  in  progress  be- 


142    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

tween  the  French  and  Americans.  He  decided  to  immediately 
acquiesce  in  the  permanent  staff  idea.  Of  course  what  was  in 
his  mind,  probably  under  instructions,  was  to  keep  a  careful 
watch  on  anything  which  might  indicate  methods  through 
which  there  would  be  exercise  of  power  by  the  Board.  How- 
ever, he  did  not  manifest  the  slightest  objection  to  the  insti- 
tution of  any  efforts  to  gather  information  from  the  armies, 
which  shows  that  as  always  the  English  are  sound  at  heart 
and  are  to  be  depended  upon  in  a  real  emergency  to  the  last 
degree. 

From  the  above  I  do  not  wish  to  create  the  impression 
that  I  am  discouraged  with  Beadon  as  a  member  of  the 
Board.  He  will  very  faithfully  represent  the  attitude  of 
General  Cowans  toward  the  Board.  From  what  I  know  of 
Cowans  that  attitude  will  be  one  of  great  caution  until  he  sees 
that  his  own  right  to  protect  his  men  and  to  run  his  Depart- 
ment as  he  pleases  is  not  in  jeopardy,  and  then  he  will  give 
the  loyal  cooperation  which  we  have  come  to  expect  from  the 
English  and  in  particular  from  General  Cowans's  own  Quarter- 
master Department  in  its  relation  to  the  American  Expedi- 
tionary Forces.  As  General  Cowans  announced  that  Beadon's 
appointment  was  to  be  considered  temporary,  I  feel  that  the 
work  of  the  Board  will  lead  the  English  ultimately  to  appoint 
a  man  more  used  to  the  exercise  of  authority  than  Beadon 
and  one  possessed  of  the  same  general  latitude  of  discretion 
with  which  Payot  and  myself  have  been  entrusted  by  our 
respective  Commanders-in-Chief.  That  there  is  a  very  wide- 
spread desire  for  this  among  some  of  the  leading  English 
officers  directly  in  contact  with  the  supply  of  their  army  is 
evidenced  by  their  desire  to  consult  with  me  in  this  connection. 
Major  Bacon  tells  me  that  my  presence  is  desired  at  British 
General  Headquarters  where  he  has  arranged  a  conference  for 
me  with  General  Travers-Clarke.  To  sum  up,  so  far  as  English 
representation  is  concerned,  I  feel  more  certain  of  their  en- 
tire cooperation  than  at  any  other  time.  The  English  are  slow 
to  enter  into  an  agreement,  but  once  they  are  committed  we 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  143 

all  know  that  they  are  as  steadfast  as  their  own  Rock  of  Gib- 
raltar. I  believe  that  Beadon  himself  will  develop  into  a 
satisfactory  member  of  the  Board  when  the  attitude  toward 
the  Board  of  those  over  him  is  that  of  those  over  Payot  and 
myself.  As  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  everything  essen- 
tial which  Payot  and  I  had  planned  went  through,  I  feel  very 
well  satisfied.  The  method  which  you  inaugurated,  to  have 
your  own  army  cooperate  with  the  coordinating  plans  of  the 
Board,  will  require  some  consideration.  In  connection  there- 
with I  hope  to  see  you  personally  soon.  The  longer  I  am  in 
military  service  and  realize  the  extent  of  the  powers  which 
are  in  the  hands  of  those  in  important  positions  to  administer, 
the  more  I  realize  the  desirability  of  refraining  whenever  possi- 
ble from  the  unexplained  exercise  of  arbitrary  authority.  If, 
whenever  possible,  the  reasons  reinforcing  discipline  are  given, 
then  in  time  of  emergency  the  body  of  men  thus  accustomed 
to  understand  that  discipline  is  based  upon  reason  accept, 
with  enthusiasm  instead  of  apathy,  the  necessary  and  quick 
imposition  of  unexplained  arbitrary  authority.  In  this  state- 
ment I  am  simply  putting  in  the  words  the  spirit  of  the  com- 
manding officers  and  General  Staff  of  the  regular  army  of  the 
United  States  as  I  have  noted  it  in  innumerable  instances 
since  my  association  with  them. 

Existing  as  I  know  there  does  between  General  Kernan 
and  myself  the  highest  degree  of  mutual  confidence,  I  do  not 
think  Payot's  plans,  which  tend  to  make  more  prominent 
those  independent  powers  of  the  Board  which  we  had  hoped  to 
keep  in  the  background,  will  result  in  any  lessening  of  the  full 
effectiveness  of  the  organization.  General  Kernan  fully  under- 
stands my  intention  to  subject  to  his  judgment,  and,  in 
points  of  difference,  to  his  authority,  any  decision  which  I 
should  be  called  upon  to  make  involving  his  services,  and  that 
I  am  to  be  properly  regarded  as  his  agent  as  well  as  your  own 
in  this  work.  Of  course  the  authority  of  yourself  and  General 
Kernan  is  always  in  the  background  as  a  means  of  enforcing 
cooperation  in  the  Board's  work  of  coordination,  but  from  my 


144         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

contact  in  important  matters  with  the  personnel  of  both  the 
Staff"  at  General  Headquarters  and  at  Headquarters,  Services 
of  Supply,  so  far  from  anticipating  any  lack  of  sympathy  or 
help  from  them  I  anticipate  the  most  earnest  cooperation. 
To  insure  this,  all  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  do  in  the  future 
is  what  I  have  tried  to  do  in  the  past  —  keep  them  fully  in- 
formed of  the  facts  surrounding  proposed  decisions  before 
making  them  and  consult  them  freely  as  to  the  wisdom  of  a 
decision. 

This  letter  is  long,  but  the  subject  is  one  of  great  impor- 
tance, involving  the  success  of  the  plan  which  the  Govern- 
ments have  adopted  upon  your  initiative  and  which  must  not 
be  allowed  to  become  a  failure. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A, 

July  5,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  June  29  and 
30,  and  July  i,  2,  3,  4,  and  5: 

1 .  Since  the  most  important  of  my  activities  have  related 
during  the  last  few  days  to  the  Military  Board  of  Allied 
Supply,  all  of  which  1  have  covered  in  my  correspondence 
with  yourself  and  the  Commander-in-Chief,  and  of  which  you 
were  fully  advised,  I  have  neglected  to  make  a  report  of  my 
other  activities  which  the  daily  increasing  pressure  of  a  gen- 
eral situation  has  made  varied. 

2.  The  negotiations  with  the  French  Government  and  the 
heads  of  services  in  connection  with  supplies  have  become 
so  frequent  and  varied  that  a  report  on  them  is  difficult  to 
make  from  recollection.  During  the  past  few  days,  resulting 
in  decisions  or  actions  of  one  kind  or  another,  have  had  nego- 
tiations relative  to  Belgian  passenger  cars,  steel  rod  for  splints, 
wood,  horses,  coal,  etc. 

3.  Took  up  with  French  Minister  of  Armament  misunder- 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  H.  M.  BYLLESBY,  A.E.F. 
Purchasing  Agent  in  England 


t/ 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  145 

standing  of  our  cession  to  them  of  a  depot  at  Melun  which  I 
explained  to  their  satisfaction. 

4.  In  accordance  with  your  orders  we  are  arranging  des- 
tination in  case  of  unexpected  instructions  from  the  French 
Government  to  vacate  Paris. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

July  10,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  July  6,  7,  8, 

and  9: 

1 .  The  important  activities  of  this  office  cover  such  a  large 
range  of  subjects  and  the  general  pressure  of  the  supply  situa- 
tion owing  to  the  steadily  increasing  number  of  our  troops  is 
such  that,  unless  instructed  otherwise,  the  General  Purchas- 
ing Agent  will  assume  that  it  is  your  desire  to  be  kept  in 
touch  only  with  transactions  which  involve  policy  or  require 
instructions. 

2.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  has  been  concerned 
during  the  past  four  da>s  with  emergency  supply  situation  in 
connection  with  practically  all  branches  of  the  service.  He 
will  refer  to  three  cases  especially. 

(i)  Horses:  By  instruction  from  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  by  telegram  and  telephone  I  had  a  conference 
with  M.  Tardieu  and  General  Lerond,  Deputy  Chief 
of  Staff  of  General  Foch,  and  other  French  officers  and 
officials.  The  result  of  this  conference  indicates  that 
the  French  Government  will  succeed  in  furnishing  the 
eighty  thousand  horses  needed  for  the  artillery  by 
August  I,  with  a  possible  delay  of  one  week  in  the  de- 
livery of  some  of  the  animals;  that  from  August  i  on,  so 
far  as  horses  are  concerned,  to  use  an  English  expres- 
sion, we  must  be  "on  our  own."  In  order  to  give  us  the 
eighty  thousand  horses  the  French  will  increase  to  a 
total  of  three  fourths  if  necessary  the  share  of  horses 
which  they  are  taking  under  requisition  and  which  are 


146        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

to  be  allotted  to  the  American  Expeditionaty  Force. 
This  information  was  transmitted  by  telegram  to  the 
Commander-in-Chief  and  repeated  to  you. 
(2)  Labor  situation:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  being 
charged  with  the  procurement  of  labor  is  redoubling 
his  efforts  in  the  matter  of  recruiting  in  neutral  and 
Allied  countries  since  the  French  have  requested  that 
no  more  recruiting  of  civilian  labor  be  done  in  France. 
They  are  short  in  the  matter  of  their  own  labor  require- 
ments. Our  labor  agency  in  Italy  gives  the  best  prom- 
ise of  immediate  results.  Am  sending  additional  officers 
there,  including  the  Assistant  Chief  of  the  Labor  Bureau. 
Am  also  sending  officer  to  Portugal  to  endeavor  to  re- 
open the  labor  situation  there,  which  so  far  has  not 
been  productive  of  results  owing  to  the  attitude  of  the 
Portuguese  Government.  Am  also  sending  additional 
officers  to  Spain.  Am  taking  steps  to  make  another  repre- 
sentation to  the  Italian  Government  as  to  the  necessity 
of  an  additional  cession  of  militarized  labor.  In  con- 
nection with  the  method  under  which  civilian  labor  is 
handled  at  present,  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  feels 
that  the  method  has  not  yet  been  adopted  by  which  the 
maximum  of  work  can  be  secured  from  our  present  force. 
This  matter  is  now  under  discussion  in  our  labor  or- 
ganization. I  am  inclining  to  the  opinion  that  a  more 
centralized  control  of  labor  should  be  had  at  Services  of 
Supply.  The  problem  is  resolving  itself  in  my  own 
mind  into  a  question  of  how  to  secure  the  benefits  of 
a  more  central  control  of  the  Labor  Organization  at 
Services  of  Supply  without  lessening  the  advantage 
which  a  location  here  gives  in  connection  with  the 
general  system  of  procurement.  In  the  broader  sense 
labor  is  a  commodity  analogous  to  any  other  supply, 
and  the  function  of  gathering  it  thus  far  has  most  ad- 
vantageously proceeded  in  connection  with  our  general 
supply  efforts.  Unquestionably  I  had  best  keep  under 
my  supervision  and  control  the  procurement  of  labor, 
but  if  some  practicable  plan  can  be  devised  by  which 
efficiency  in  the  handling  of  labor  will  be  forwarded  by 
the  assumption  of  additional  control  by  the  S.O.S. 
without  impairing  the  collection  of  labor,  it  should  be 
done.  This  matter  has  been  discussed  by  Colonel 
Smither,  Major  McAdam,  and  myself  heretofore.    I 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  147 

expect  to  send  Major  Jackson  to  Tours  to  again  take 
up  this  question  with  Colonel  Smither  and  Major 
McAdam. 
(3)  Fuel  wood:  It  was  represented  to  the  General  Purchas- 
ing Agent  that  a  crisis  existed  in  the  matter  of  fuel- 
wood  allowance.  Accordingly,  Major  Hill,  who  has 
this  matter  in  charge,  was  summoned  here  and  an  ex- 
amination of  the  situation  made.  The  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  efficiency 
with  which  Major  Hill  has  handled  the  fuel-wood  and 
coal  situation.  He  has  done  his  work  so  well  that  so  far 
from  a  crisis  existing  in  the  fuel-wood  situation,  it  is 
estimated  by  our  experts  that  the  supply  of  fuel-wood 
on  hand,  together  with  that  to  be  received  from  the 
forestry  operations,  is  sufficient  to  supply  an  army  of 
two  million  men  for  a  period  of  one  year  on  the  basis 
of  the  British  figures  of  fuel-wood  consumption.  The 
General  Purchasing  Agent  decided,  therefore,  that 
there  was  no  foundation  for  the  claim  of  a  crisis  and 
made  no  recommendation  to  the  French  in  this  con- 
nection. Major  Hill  himself  withdrew  the  suggestion 
that  the  matter  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  French 
Government.  This  incident  illustrates  the  importance 
which  should  attach  to  the  views  of  the  Military  Board 
of  Allied  Supply  which  is  in  a  position  to  secure  a  view 
of  the  entire  situation  as  distinguished  from  the  situa- 
tion pertaining  to  a  single  army.  It  illustrates  also  that 
the  tendency  of  those  charged  as  a  matter  of  military 
duty  with  the  protection  of  a  particular  supply  have 
not  the  attitude  of  mind  toward  a  general  emergency 
affecting  three  armies  which  justifies  their  report  being 
adopted  conclusively  as  a  basis  for  inter-army  or  inter- 
governmental negotiations.  The  pressure  of  the  situa- 
tion under  which  the  French  army  and  French  people 
are  struggling  must  be  kept  constantly  in  our  minds. 
As  one  closely  in  touch  with  the  higher  French  offi- 
cials here  and  cognizant  to  some  extent  of  their  em- 
barrassments, I  cannot  too  strongly  emphasize  the 
sincerity  and  generosity  of  their  efforts  at  coopera- 
tion in  the  supplying  of  our  needs.  We  must  show 
a  similar  spirit  and  always  make  our  demands  in  terms 
of  the  minimum  necessary  instead  of  the  maximum 
desired. 


148         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

3.  In  discussion  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  over  the 
telephone,  relative  to  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  he 
said  that  in  another  order  defining  my  duties  as  member  of 
the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  he  would  state  that  they 
would  be  exercised  in  addition  to  my  duties  as  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent,  which  means  that  the  status  quo  here  will  be 
maintained  unless  the  pressure  of  additional  work  makes  it 
impossible.  I  do  not,  however,  anticipate  that  the  latter  will 
be  the  case,  as  my  duties  as  a  member  of  the  Military  Board 
of  Allied  Supply  should  not  consume  any  very  large  portion 
of  my  time. 

4.  Under  direction  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  I  had  a 
conference  with  M.  Tardieu  as  to  the  method  of  cooperation 
between  his  Bureau  of  Franco-American  affairs  and  the 
American  Expeditionary  Force.  The  Commander-in-Chief  is 
averse  to  the  establishment  of  a  separate  organization  for  this 
work  and  asked  me  to  consult  with  M.  Tardieu  in  connec- 
tion with  the  use  of  existing  machinery.  M.  Tardieu  agreed 
fully  in  this  view,  and  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  will, 
therefore,  endeavor  through  his  organization  to  keep  M. 
Tardieu  in  touch  with  the  supply  requirements  of  the  Ameri- 
can Expeditionary  Force  with  the  cooperation  of  General 
Headquarters  and  the  Services  of  Supply.  As  M.  Tardieu's 
plan  is  to  assist  in  the  matter  of  saving  tonnage,  I  suggested  to 
him  that  I  furnish  him  forecasts  of  the  army  requirements  for 
the  next  quarter  and  also  secure  for  him  a  statement  of  the 
requisitions  which  we  make  from  time  to  time  on  the  United 
States  for  such  portion  of  these  supplies  as  we  have  assumed 
must  be  sent  from  there.  M.  Tardieu  and  M.  Villagran, 
French  Minister  of  Supplies,  can  then  study  the  requisitions 
and  our  requirements  with  a  view  to  determining  whether  or 
not  the  requisitions  cannot  be  lessened  by  securing  a  larger 
portion  of  the  supplies  in  France.  M.  Tardieu's  organization 
should  be  able  to  save  much  tonnage,  since  it  provides  an 
additional  and  most  important  agency  for  the  study  of  the 
particular  question  to  which  the  best  efforts  of  the  entire 


C:  DAJLY  REPORTS  149 

Staff  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Force  have  been  given. 
The  French  agency  will  have  the  advantage  in  the  study  of 
this  question  of  first  access  to  French  information,  which,  of 
course,  the  American  Expeditionary  Force  does  not  have. 

5.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  has  considered  impor- 
tant matters  during  the  last  four  days  in  connection  with  the 
Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,  Technical  Board, 
Bureau  of  Statistics,  refrigerator  cars  in  Switzerland,  labor 
recruiting  in  England,  organization  of  the  Staff  of  the  Mil- 
itary Board  of  Allied  Supply,  horse  situation  in  Italy  for 
American  troops  there,  Red  Cross  purchases,  Y.M.CA.  pur- 
chases, etc. 

6.  I  have  written  the  following  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  attaching  a  copy  of  the  minutes  of  the  second  meeting 
of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  which  I  am  sending 
herewith : 

(i)  I  enclose  herewith  the  minutes  of  the  second  meeting 
of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  The  third 
meeting  was  held  last  Sunday,  July  7,  but  the  minutes 
of  the  same  have  not  been  submitted  for  agreement. 
There  will  always  be  a  delay  in  forwarding  the  minutes 
of  the  meetings,  as  by  agreement  they  must  be  approved 
by  each  member. 

(2)  At  the  third  meeting  a  preliminary  discussion  of  the 
steps  to  be  pursued  in  the  coordination  of  construction 
of  warehouse  and  depot  plans  and  situation  of  the 
three  armies  was  had  and  the  nature  of  information 
desired  from  each  army  outlined.  On  July  17  a  meet- 
ing will  be  held  at  which  the  information  will  be  pre- 
sented by  those  in  charge  of  the  respective  services  oi 
the  different  armies  and  discussed  by  them  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Board.  General  Jadwin  was  present  at  the 
third  meeting  and  understands  fully  the  nature  of  the 
information  desired  from  our  own  army  and  the  manner 
in  which  it  is  to  be  presented  to  match  similar  informa- 
tion for  the  other  two  armies. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


150    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

July  i6,  191 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  July  10,  11,  12, 

13,  14,  and  15: 

1.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  on  forest 
situation  and  other  critical  questions  of  supply  in  relation  to 
French  requirements. 

2.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  relative  to 
the  method  of  cooperation  with  the  Board  established  by  M. 
Tardieu  designed  to  assist  in  the  effort  to  save  tonnage.  The 
Commander-in-Chief  will  appoint  an  officer  to  work  in  close 
liaison  with  G.H.Q.,  S.O.S.,  and  the  G.P.B.  and  M.  Tardieu's 
Board.  In  general,  M.  Tardieu  and  the  French  Minister  of 
Supplies  will  study  the  forward  requirements  of  the  army, 
which  I  have  furnished  them,  in  connection  with  our  requisi- 
tions to  determine  whether  or  not  a  portion  of  the  latter  can- 
not be  supplied  from  French  sources. 

3.  Conference  on  methods  to  be  pursued  by  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply. 

4.  Conference  on  Labor  Organization  relative  to  recom- 
mendation of  General  Purchasing  Agent  that  the  Head- 
quarters of  this  organization  be  removed  to  Tours  in  order  to 
be  in  closer  contact  with  conditions  and  environment  under 
which  labor  is  employed. 

5.  Conference  with  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments  in 
relation  to  amounts  due  English  on  account  of  American 
troops  and  other  matters. 

6.  Conference  with  Colonel  Byllesby,  Purchasing  Agent  for 
England,  in  regard  to  the  organization  of  his  office  and  prepa- 
ration of  suggested  orders  covering  method  of  operation  of 
the  agency  of  the  General  Purchasing  Board  in  England  to 
take  the  place  of  orders  recently  issued  by  G.H.Q.  Copy  of 
the  suggested  orders  will  be  forwarded  to  you. 

7.  Conference  with  the  French  relative  to  information  to 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  151 

be  submitted  on  the  forestry  situation  by  General  Jadwin 
at  next  meeting  of  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  on 
Wednesday  afternoon. 

8.  Conference  with  Paul  D.  Cravath  relative  to  English 
cooperation  with  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 

9.  On  Saturday,  July  13,  visited  Headquarters  of  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply;  also  French  front. 

10.  Conference  upon  order  of  the  Commander-in-Chief 
with  Mr.  Walter  Damrosch  relative  to  reorganization  of  the 
army  music.  Sent  Damrosch  to  Chaumont  for  consultation 
with  officer  of  General  Staff. 

11.  Conference  with  M.  Van  de  Vyvere,  Minister  of  Fi- 
nance, Belgium,  relative  to  cooperation  of  Belgian  army  with 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 

12.  Conference  with  General  Merrone,  Italian  army,  re- 
sulting in  the  furnishing  of  officers  of  American  troops  in  Italy 
with  proper  mounts. 

13.  Conference  with  representatives  of  Fourth  Bureau, 
S.O.S.,  detailed  to  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 

14.  Various  routine  matters  of  supply,  contract,  and  labor 
involving  no  important  matters  of  policy  and  too  numerous 
for  detail. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

July  17,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:  The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  July  16  and  1/  • 
I.  Conference  over  telephone  with  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  relative  to  relation  of  Tardieu  Board  to  the  American 
Expeditionary  Force.  It  transpires  that  Tardieu  has  been 
communicating  as  to  the  needs  of  the  A.E.F.  direct  with  the 
United  States,  a  course  which  persisted  in  would  result  in 
extreme  confusion.  The  Commander-in-Chief  has  taken  a 
strong  position  with  Tardieu  that  if  he  persists  in  endeavor- 


152    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

ing  to  represent  the  needs  of  the  A.E.F.  to  Washington 
authorities,  without  first  submitting  his  suggestions toG.H.Q., 
that  the  A.E.F,  will  decline  to  recognize  his  Board.  Tardieu 
has  promised  not  to  make  representations  as  to  the  needs  of 
the  A.E.F.  without  consultation.  For  the  purpose  of  insuring 
the  proper  cooperation  between  Tardieu  and  the  A.E.F.  the 
Commander-in-Chief  states  that  he  will  appoint  an  officer 
from  G.H.Q.  to  be  charged  with  responsibility  for  the  same. 

2.  Conference  with  Major  Harjes  on  Tardieu  matter. 

3.  Conference  with  Staff  of  General  Purchasing  Agent 
relative  to  the  form  of  a  suggested  order  covering  method  to 
be  pursued  in  consolidated  purchases.  Copy  of  this  suggested 
order  has  been  sent  to  G.H.Q.  and  also  to  General  Kutz, 
S.O.S.,  concurrently.  The  G.P.A.  asked  General  Kutz  to  con- 
sider this  order  so  that  if  he  has  any  suggestions  to  make  in 
connection  therewith  they  can  be  considered  by  G.H.Q.  con- 
currently with  the  letter  from  the  General  Purchasing  Agent. 

4.  Conference  with  Staff  of  General  Purchasing  Agent  on 
methods  pursued  by  Engineers  in  connection  with  Swiss  pur- 
chases. The  General  Purchasing  Agent  is  not  satisfied  with 
efforts  which  the  Engineers  have  made  to  make  purchases  not 
subject  to  proper  coordination.  This  is  not  the  fault  of 
Colonel  Townsend,  Chief  Purchasing  Officer  of  the  Engineers, 
who  has  taken  steps  to  correct  certain  errors  on  the  part  of  his 
subordinates. 

5.  Conference  on  matter  of  Portuguese  labor. 

6.  Consideration  of  wood  situation.  A  telegram  in  this  con- 
nection from  the  Commander-in-Chief  directing  a  conference 
between  General  Jadwin  and  the  General  Purchasing  Agent 
on  the  general  subject  of  lumber  and  forestry  requirements 
before  the  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  this 
afternoon,  which  will  be  attended  by  General  Jadwin,  indicates 
that  a  reconsideration  must  be  had  of  the  general  construction 
programme  of  the  A.E.F.  in  view  of  the  inadequacy  of  the 
lumber  supply.  It  is  hoped  that  at  this  afternoon's  meeting, 
in  conference  with  the  French  and  English,  the  entire  lumber 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  153 

and  construction  situation  may  be  so  outlined  that  an  in- 
telligent conclusion  as  to  the  relative  necessities  of  the  respec- 
tive armies  and  proportions  in  which  lumber  supplies  may  be 
divided  can  be  ascertained.  General  Jadwin  will  no  doubt 
report  to  you  the  results  of  the  conference. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A, 

July  23,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  July  18,  19,  20, 
21,  22,  and  23: 

1.  Absence  from  the  city  interfered  with  sending  of  daily 
report,  as  in  the  period  above  mentioned  I  visited  British 
General  Headquarters  at  Montreuil,  French  General  Head- 
quarters at  Provins,  and  Headquarters  of  the  Military  Board 
of  Allied  Supply  at  Coubert.  My  visit  to  British  Head- 
quarters was  at  the  invitation  of  General  Travers-Clarke, 
who  is  in  command  of  the  British  rear,  and  resulted  in  a  clear 
understanding  on  his  part  of  the  functions  of  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply.  General  Travers-Clarke  feels  that 
he  should  be  a  member  of  this  Board  and  is  now  in  England 
where  the  matter  of  his  appointment  to  the  Board  will  be 
taken  up  with  Lord  Milner.  His  membership  on  the  Board 
would  make  more  close  the  relation  of  the  Board  to  the  Eng- 
lish rear. 

2.  At  request  of  Colonel  Payot  I  visited  the  French  General 
Headquarters  in  connection  with  management  of  French 
transportation  system.  Colonel  Payot  desires  that  General 
Pershing  be  kept  fully  informed  of  the  progress  of  this  matter. 
The  General  Purchasing  Agent  conferred  with  General 
Pershing  in  this  connection.  The  point  involved  is  a  pro- 
posed lessening  of  the  power  of  French  military  authorities 
over  transportation  in  the  Zone  of  Advance.  In  view  of  the 
success  which  has  attended  the  handling  of  the  transportation 


154    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

in  the  Zone  of  Advance  by  military  authorities,  it  would  be 
nothing  less  than  a  calamity  in  which  the  A.E.F.  would  be 
vitally  interested  if  the  arrangement  were  changed.    As  a 
matter  of  fact,  the  French  transportation  outside  of  the  Zone 
of  Advance  should  be  centralized  in  the  military  authority 
now  controlling  transportation  at  the  front.  This  is  submitted 
for  your  confidential  information,  and  the  French  military 
authorities  request  that  the  giving  of  information  in  relation 
to  it  be  restricted  to  yourself  and  the  Commander-in-Chief. 
3.  Meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  was  held 
yesterday  at  Coubert.    General  Wheeler,  General  Moseley, 
Major  Hodges  were  present  in  addition  to  the  Staff  of  the 
American  Section.    The  minutes  of  the  meeting  will  give  a 
more  detailed  report  of  what  was  done.    However,  arrange- 
ment was  completed  for  the  pooling  of  ammunition  at  the 
front,  the  French  being  authorized  to  take  ammunition  now  in 
French  depots,  but  marked  for  the  A.E.F.   In  turn  they  are 
supplying  the  American  troops  with  ammunition  as  needed. 
General  Wheeler  and  General  Moseley  agree  in  connection 
with  the  action  taken.  The  Board  decided  to  request  informa- 
tion as  to  motor  transports  of  the  three  armies.  Colonel  Payot 
emphasized  the  great  necessity  of  a  common  reserve  of  motor 
transports  of  the  three  armies  in  connection  with  any  pro- 
posed offensive.  They  must  be  used  for  troop  transportation 
to  points  of  attack.  The  French  have  moved  for  some  months 
more  troops  by  motor  transports  than  by  railroad.    I  ob- 
tained an  agreement  from  Colonel  Payot  by  which  orders  will 
be  given  to  the  French  operating  in  conjunction  with  Ameri- 
can units  that  a  division  of  the  prisoners  taken  be  made  with 
the  Americans.    It  is  my  belief  that  heretofore  we  have  not 
been  receiving  our  proper  proportion  of  the  prisoners  taken  in 
joint  offensives  where  the  French  and  American  troops  have 
been  closely  mingled.  We  have,  of  course,  received  the  prison- 
ers taken  by  American  divisions  where  they  operated  as  a 

unit. 

4.  The  American  representatives  presented  the  complete 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  155 

situation  in  the  wood  matter  of  the  A.E.F.  The  French  are 
still  gathering  their  information.  It  will  be  some  time  before 
it  is  secured.  Complete  information  as  to  the  entire  situation 
is  desirable  before  the  policy  of  the  A.E.F.  in  connection  with 
the  wood  requirements  is  determined. 

5.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  in  connection 
with  the  embargo  which  Spain  has  put  upon  shipment  of 
horses  and  mules  to  the  A.E.F.  We  are  taking  this  matter  up 
through  the  representative  of  the  War  Trade  Board.  The 
object  of  the  Spanish  embargo  is  unquestionably  to  compel 
the  release  of  cotton  from  the  United  States  to  Spain.  This 
release  of  cotton  must  be  made,  as  it  is  absolutely  essential, 
in  the  crisis  which  confronts  us  in  the  horse  situation,  that  we 
obtain  Spanish  animals. 

6.  At  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  meeting  the 
question  of  standardizing  the  horse  ration  for  the  three  armies 
was  discussed  and  full  information  presented.  General 
Moseley  and  Colonel  Eltinge,  of  the  General  Staff,  who  were 
present,  stated  that  after  hearing  the  arguments  of  Colonel 
Williams  and  Captain  Halsey,  of  our  Remount  Service,  as 
well  as  the  statements  of  the  French,  English,  and  Italian 
representatives,  they  would  be  prepared  to  submit  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  Board  on  Sunday  the  ration  which  the 
A.E.F.  would  accept.  Discussion  of  hay  transportation  and 
forage  supplies  was  had.  I  made  arrangements  for  the  French 
Commandant  in  charge  of  the  French  hay  supply  to  meet 
Colonel  Maud,  of  the  English  army,  with  the  idea  of  having 
introduced  into  the  French  army  the  English  system  of  double 
compression  of  hay  which  would  result  in  a  great  saving  of 
transportation  space. 

7.  Had  various  conferences  with  different  branches  of  my 
office,  including  the  Labor  Bureau,  Technical  Board,  and 
Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments.  These  matters,  al- 
though very  important,  are  nevertheless  not  related  to  any 
operations  which  are  not  clearly  understood  by  you  and  it  will 
not  be  necessary  to  recapitulate  them. 


156    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

8.  Conference  with  S.  M,  Felton,  Director-Genera!  of 
Transportation,  who  is  about  to  leave  for  Tours.  In  connec- 
tion with  the  French  and  American  command,  there  being  an 
insufficient  supply  in  practically  all  classes  of  requirements, 
the  General  Purchasing  Agent  as  such,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  finds  himself  in  all  pre- 
liminary negotiations  between  what  seems  an  irresistible 
force  and  an  immovable  body.  To  resolve  such  situations 
the  information  which  both  sides  receive  from  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply  is  essential,  and  favorable  results  of  the 
interchange  of  such  information  in  the  attitude  of  mind  of 
both  parties  to  the  situation  is  already  evident. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colo?iel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

July  26,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F, 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities,  July  24,  25,  and  26: 

1.  During  the  last  three  days  have  attended  to  matters 
connected  with  practically  all  the  departments  of  this  office. 
In  connection  with  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  as  I 
have  already  wired  you,  action  was  taken  pooling  munitions 
at  the  front  between  the  French  and  American  armies  and 
providing  for  a  method  of  withdrawal  from  depots  at  the 
front.  Was  notified  by  the  Chief  of  Staff,  G.H.Q.,  that  orders 
corresponding  to  those  issued  by  the  French  army  have  been 
issued  to  the  American  army  in  this  connection  as  requested. 

2.  During  the  last  two  days  have  been  in  conference  with 
the  French  relative  to  the  method  of  settling  the  general  wood 
situation  which  is  at  a  crisis.  Held  conference  yesterday  with 
representatives  of  the  French  Zone  of  Advance  and  this 
morning  with  M.  Tardieu  relative  to  the  presentation  of  the 
situation  in  the  French  Zone  of  the  Rear.  It  is  apparently 
necessary  for  the  A.E.F.  to  deal  in  this  particular  case  with 
two   authorities   representing    the    French    front   and   rear 


HAROLD  F.  Mccormick 
Purchasing  Agent  in  Switzerland 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  157 

respectively,  as  the  French  do  not  regard  it  as  practicable  to 
centralize  their  authority  in  their  representative  on  the  Mili- 
tary Board  of  Allied  Supply.  The  Chief  of  Staff,  G.H.Q.,  tele- 
phoned the  General  Purchasing  Agent  in  this  connection  that 
when  the  final  conference  with  the  French  was  held  on  this 
subject  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  could  notify  the  French 
that  the  Commander-in-Chief  would  requisition  six  thousand 
foresters  to  work  under  French  direction  in  the  French  forests 
in  order  to  furnish  them  wood.  He  stated  in  addition  that 
the  Commander-in-Chief  expected  to  requisition  twenty-four 
thousand  foresters  for  work  on  the  American  construction 
programme  in  addition  to  the  six  thousand  for  the  French. 

3.  Conference  had  between  Commandant  Lescannes,  in 
charge  of  the  French  forage  situation.  Colonel  Maud,  of  the 
English  army,  and  myself  for  discussion  of  the  process  now  in 
use  by  the- English  for  the  double  compression  of  hay,  re- 
sulting in  large  saving  of  transportation  space  on  railroads. 
Commandant  Lescannes  left  yesterday  for  Toulouse  to  ac- 
quaint himself  with  the  English  method  of  handling  hay.  It 
is  hoped,  through  the  adoption  of  the  English  method  by  the 
French  and  Americans,  that  additional  hay  can  be  trans- 
ported for  the  horses  at  the  front. 

4.  Secured  through  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply 
promise  of  the  issuance  of  an  order  to  the  French  army 
through  which  it  is  hoped  that  we  shall  secure  a  larger  num- 
ber of  German  prisoners  at  the  points  where  French  and 
American  troops  act  in  conjunction. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

August  6,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  for  the  period  July 
27  to  August  6,  inclusive: 

I.  Having  been  notified  by  you  on  Sunday,  July  28,  that 


158    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

you  were  to  assume  command  of  the  Serv^ice  of  Supply,  I 
joined  you  on  the  29th  at  Tours  and  spent  most  of  the  time 
practically  in  continuous  touch  with  you.  No  detailed  report 
of  activities  for  this  period,  therefore,  seems  essential,  even 
if  I  could  recall  them. 

2.  The  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  at 
Coubert  on  Friday,  August  2,  to  attend  which  I  left  you  at  St. 
Nazaire,  resulted  in  the  completion  of  the  collection  of  in- 
formation on  the  hay  and  forage  situation  in  the  Allied  armies 
such  as  to  justify  me  in  a  recommendation  to  you  relative  to 
reduction  of  the  American  forage  ration.  Regarding  it  as  very 
important  in  your  determination  of  whether  or  not  to  ap- 
prove of  the  recommendation  that  the  American  forage  ration 
be  reduced  to  the  British  forage  ration,  I  am  sending  you 
to-day  by  General  Jadwin  the  report  of  Commandant  Les- 
cannes,  in  charge  of  forage  for  the  French  army;  British 
feeding  regulations;  note  on  British  forage  ration,  together 
with  certain  tables.  Examination  of  these  important  papers 
will,  I  trust,  lead  you  to  the  approval  of  the  reduction  of  the 
American  forage  ration,  coupled  with  the  issuance  of  orders 
designed  to  prevent  waste  somewhat  similar  to  the  British 
regulations.  After  my  conversation  with  you  in  the  office 
the  other  day  I  feel  that  these  papers  will  reinforce  the  con- 
clusion which  is  already  in  your  mind  of  the  necessity  of  a 
reduction,  and  if  so  I  hope  very  much  that  you  will  wire  me 
your  conclusion  in  time  for  me  to  report  it  at  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  on  Sunday, 
August  II.  The  reports  of  the  meetings  of  the  Military  Board 
of  Allied  Supply  are  read  by  all  French  departments,  both 
civil  and  military,  and  I  am  sure  that  this  effort  to  meet  their 
views  in  the  matter  of  economy  will  be  appreciated  by  them 
and  of  value  to  us  in  connection  with  concurrent  and  similar 
negotiations. 

3.  Captain  Moore  has  carried  to  you  the  report  of  the 
Military'  Board  of  Allied  Supply  on  the  matter  of  the  mobile 
automobile  reserve  which  has  been  discussed  with  you  and  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  159 

Importance  of  which  you  have  in  mind.  Since  before  long  you 
will  be  asked  to  make  an  important  decision  in  this  connec- 
tion, I  trust  that  this  report  may  have  your  early  considera- 
tion. 

4.  Have  held  various  conferences  in  connection  with  the 
Italian  labor  situation;  with  Mr.  McFadden,  War  Trade 
Board,  in  connection  with  cooperation  of  the  War  Trade 
Board  in  securing  additional  supplies  from  Italy,  especially 
motor  transport  and  labor;  with  Mr.  Herbert  C.  Hoover 
relative  to  cooperation  of  the  A.E.F.  in  connection  with 
securing  from  England  concessions  as  to  wheat  for  France; 
and  with  various  departments  of  my  office  on  routine 
matters. 

5.  Very  important  conference  with  Mr.  Dwight  Morrow,  of 
the  Allied  Maritime  Transportation  Council,  who  has  in  my 
judgment  a  very  broad  conception  of  the  whole  international 
shipping  situation  and  the  necessity  for  establishing  the  closest 
possible  touch  by  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  with  this  matter.  You 
should  know  their  situation  and  they  should  know  yours  in 
order  to  insure  the  successful  completion  of  the  proposed 
military  programme.  The  situation  as  outlined  by  Mr.  Mor- 
row requires  immediate  attention.  Mr.  Morrow  is  required  to 
return  to  London  early  next  week.  He  will  be  glad  to  come  to 
Tours  at  any  time  named  by  you  to  give  you  the  situation 
as  he  sees  it  and  his  ideas  in  connection  therewith.  I  cannot 
overstate  the  importance  of  this  early  interview  by  you  with 
him.  I  think  after  you  have  talked  with  Morrow  you  will 
want  to  take  him  from  G.H.Q.  or  Paris  and  attach  him  as  a 
civilian  to  your  Staff  at  Tours.  It  may  be  impossible  to  get 
Mr.  Morrow  away  from  his  present  assignment,  but  my  own 
idea  is  that  association  with  you  would  not  be  inconsistent 
with  his  retaining  his  relation  with  the  Maritime  Council. 
Please  wire  me  what  time  this  week  you  can  see  Morrow. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


i6o    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

August  7,  1918- 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  August  6  (con- 
tinued) and  August  7 : 

I.  Attended  conference  on  wood  and  tie  situation.  There 
were  present  M.  Loucheur,  M.  Tardieu,  General  Chevalier, 
Commandant  Oppenheim,  and  other  French  officers,  repre- 
senting the  French,  and  General  Jadwin,  Captain  Moore, 
Lieutenant  Chandler,  and  myself,  representing  the  A.E.F. 
While  it  was  expected  to  consider  only  the  question  of  rail- 
road ties  at  this  meeting,  in  effect  a  satisfactory  adjustment 
of  the  entire  wood  situation,  for  the  present  at  least,  was 
reached.  The  French  emphasized  the  emergency  existing  in 
the  matter  of  railroad  ties.  They  stated  that  they  had  on 
hand  at  this  time  about  i  ,200,000  ties  as  a  reserve ;  that  they 
were  using  ties  at  the  rate  of  700,000  per  month ;  and  that  the 
French  production  of  ties  was  only  250,000  per  month.  Their 
reserve,  therefore,  of  1,200,000  ties  would  be  practically  ex- 
tinguished within  the  next  ninety  days  unless  assistance  could 
be  had  from  the  Americans.  This  reserve  is  a  military  reserve. 
In  case  of  an  advance  at  least  900,000  ties  must  be  ready  for 
delivery  at  the  front.  The  understanding  which  was  reached 
as  a  result  of  this  satisfactory  meeting  was  that  an  officer 
appointed  by  General  Jadwin  would  confer  with  General 
Chevalier  to  determine  how  many  additional  American  forest- 
ers could  be  immediately  diverted  to  the  work  of  creating 
ties  —  creating  a  tie  reserv^e.  The  French  agreed  to  furnish 
the  lumber  which  the  men  thus  diverted  to  cutting  ties  would 
otherwise  produce.  M.  Loucheur  made  the  statement  to  us 
that  while  he  had  forbidden  the  cutting  of  any  more  lumber  in 
the  Landes  district,  it  was  because  the  lumber  already  cut 
could  not  be  transported.  He  stated  that  it  was  useless  to  cut 
additional  lumber  under  these  circumstances  in  that  district. 
However,  he  stated  that  he  expected  to  allocate  to  the  Ameri- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  l6i 

can  army  all  the  forests  necessary  for  their  purposes  as  fast  as 
the  foresters  and  transportation  facilities  were  provided  to 
use  them.  It  did  not  become  necessary  for  us  in  connection 
with  these  concessions  to  make  a  promise  to  the  French  of 
six  thousand  foresters,  but  both  General  Jadwin  and  I  think 
that  in  view  of  the  whole  situation  the  request  for  additional 
foresters  from  the  United  States  should  be  made  as  heretofore 
contemplated  by  the  General  Staff.  The  French  are  keenly 
alive  to  the  difficulties  of  our  situation,  having  experienced  all 
of  them.  The  successful  adjustment  of  this  matter  is  very 
largely  due  to  General  Jadwin's  admirable  presentation  of  the 
situation  and  evident  spirit  of  cooperation  and  sympathy  with 
the  French,  which,  from  my  observation,  is  always  met  by 
them  with  a  corresponding  spirit. 

2.  Conference  with  Mr.  Herbert  C.  Hoover,  who  had  a  two 
hours'  conference  with  General  Pershing  yesterday.  Mr. 
Hoover  stated  that  his  opinion  coincided  directly  with  that  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief  in  the  matter  which  has  been  the 
subject  of  confidential  conversation  among  us,  relative  to  the 
command  of  the  Services  of  Supply.  Mr.  Hoover's  idea,  in 
which  General  Pershing  expressed  to  him  acquiescence,  was 
that  there  should  be  a  better  coordination  of  the  civil  agencies 
representing  our  Government  in  France  and  that  the  man 
who  should  be  sent  to  effect  this  coordination  was  Secretary 
McAdoo.  In  Secretary  McAdoo  there  would  be  combined 
the  ability,  prestige,  and  experience  necessary  to  accomplish 
this  difficult  task  of  coordinating  the  many  lines  of  independ- 
ent effort  of  the  different  civil  departments  of  our  Govern- 
ment and  their  subsidiary  boards.  I  know  you  will  fully  agree 
with  this.  Mr.  Hoover  will  leave  the  city  to-morrow,  but  his 
assistant,  Mr.  Bell,  will  remain  for  a  time,  under  instructions 
to  obtain  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the  army  necessities  in  the  food 
line.  I  told  Mr.  Bell  that  I  was  sure  you  would  afford  him 
every  possible  facility  to  acquaint  himself  with  prospective 
requirements. 

3.  Interview  with  Mr.  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  and 


1 62   JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

his  Italian  representative,  relative  to  Italian  labor  and  sup- 
plies, conference  with  Labor  Organization,  and  various  other 
routine  duties  of  ofi&ce. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

August  9,  19 1 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  August  8  and  9: 

1.  Conference  with  Colonel  Cutcheon  and  Captain  Jay 
relative  to  more  complete  organization  of  financial  system  of 
the  A.E.F. ,  in  connection  with  which  I  expect  soon  to  make 
you  a  recommendation.  As  the  business  of  the  A.E.F.  grows 
in  magnitude  the  organization  designed  to  keep  its  affairs  in 
shape  should  be  expanded  and  control  over  the  same  further 
centralized. 

2.  Conference  relative  to  labor  matters  and  with  different 
heads  of  the  departments  on  routine  matters. 

3.  Spent  evening  with  Mr.  Edward  R.  Stettinius,  Assistant 
Secretary  of  War,  which  was  devoted  to  discussion  of  the 
general  organization  methods  of  the  A.E.F.,  in  which  Mr. 
Stettinius  expressed  himself  as  satisfied.  Discussed  with  him 
plan  of  extension  of  organization  for  financial  matters  which 
we  have  in  mind  to  recommend  to  you. 

4.  Conference  with  French  officers  sent  to  me  by  Colonel 
Payot  with  reference  to  the  question  of  consideration  by  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  of  the  distribution  of  wireless 
apparatus.  M.Tardieu  has  requested  that  the  French  not  take 
up  this  matter  on  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  as  for- 
merly requested  by  General  Foch.  Colonel  Payot  desired  to 
consult  me  in  this  connection,  sa^'ing  that  it  was  his  personal 
wish  to  comply  with  M.  Tardieu's  desire,  as  he  thought 
General  Foch  was  represented  on  Tardieu's  Mission  by  one  of 
his  Staff.  I  accordingly  wired  you  suggesting  that  French 
desired  postponement  of  consideration  of  this  matter  by  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  163 

Board  and  that  it  was  unnecessary  to  send  officers  to  next 
meeting  of  the  Board.  In  the  meantime  I  shall  confer  with 
Tardieu  and  find  out  the  situation  in  this  connection.  It  may 
be  necessary  for  us  to  consider  the  matter  of  coordination  of 
the  wireless  telegraph  through  the  Tardieu  Mission  rather 
than  through  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  In  any 
event  General  Foch's  military  authority  will  be  represented. 
5.  Conference  with  Mr.  Walcott  and  Mr.  Bell,  of  the 
Hoover  Commission;  with  Mr.  McFadden,  of  the  War  Trade 
Board;  and  with  Mr.  Gifford,  who  is  associated  with  Mr. 
Stettinius  —  all  on  routine  matters  not  involving  questions 
of  policy. 

CiLVRLES  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Enghieers,  N.A. 

August  13,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  August  lO,  II, 
12,  and  13: 

1.  Before  leaving  for  Coubert  on  Sunday,  August  11,  for 
meeting  of  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  I  had  a  conference 
on  Saturday  afternoon  with  M.  Tardieu  relative  to  the  method 
to  be  pursued  in  coordination  of  wireless  apparatus  behind 
the  lines — programme,  codes,  etc.  General  Lerond,  Deputy 
Chief  of  Staff  to  General  Foch,  being  represented  at  Tardieu's 
office,  it  was  decided  that  the  matter  could  be  more  directly 
taken  up  through  the  Tardieu  Mission  than  through  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  since  programme-making 
would  be  outside  of  military  jurisdiction  so  far  as  the  French 
are  concerned.  M.  Tardieu's  Mission  has  therefore  arranged 
for  a  conference  of  the  heads  of  our  services  with  the  French 
departments  concerned  and  we  shall  not  proceed  further  with 
the  matter  on  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 

2.  Attended  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 
A  copy  of  the  minutes  of  this  meeting  when  agreed  upon  will 


i64        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

cover  the  proceedings  and  will  be  sent  to  you.  In  connection 
with  the  coordination  and  centralization  of  control  of  light 
railways  behind  the  lines,  associated  as  they  are  intimately 
with  the  whole  transportation  question  —  including  automo- 
bile reserve  —  I  desire  very  much  to  have  you  and  General 
McAndrew  listen  to  the  discussion  of  the  experts  before  the 
Board  first-hand  and  accordingly  wired  you  suggesting  this. 
General  Foch  is  especially  concerned  in  this  matter  of  the 
light  railways  running  from  the  heads  of  the  standard  roads 
to  the  front.  The  problems  of  the  transportation  of  an  army 
on  the  advance  necessitate  a  common  handling  of  them  to  se- 
cure the  best  results,  as  you  know.  The  experts  of  the  three 
armies  are  studying  these  questions  and  they  will  be  discussed 
at  the  next  meeting.  I  notified  the  Military  Board  of  Allied 
Supply  of  the  decision  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  come  to 
the  British  forage  ration  for  the  American  army.  The  oat 
ration  for  the  three  armies  thus  becomes  standardized  at  five 
kilos  per  day.  I  ask  still  that  your  mind  be  held  open  on  the 
hay  question  until  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Military  Board 
of  Allied  Supply  you  can  hear  first-hand  the  discussion  by  our 
own  experts  together  with  those  of  the  French  and  English 
armies. 

3.  Conference  with  Colonel  Cutcheon  in  connection  with 
the  plan  of  reorganization  of  the  financial  system  of  theA.E.F,, 
which  I  am  submitting  to  you  and  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  to-day.  My  written  argument  accompanying  the  same 
covers  this  important  subject  from  my  standpoint.  Whatever 
may  be  the  disposition  of  this  organization,  whether  left 
nominally  under  my  jurisdiction  or  not,  its  authority  in  my 
judgment  should  be  created  and  supported  in  every  possible 
way  by  you. 

4.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  acknowledges  with 
thanks  your  permission  for  his  vacation  for  one  week,  which 
is  the  first  he  will  have  enjoyed  since  entering  the  army.  He 
has  so  arranged  his  work  that  it  will  go  on  uninterruptedly  in 
his  absence.  So  far  as  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  is 


C:  DAILY_REPORTS  165 

concerned,  a  full  week's  time  was  necessary  for  the  proper 
study  by  expert  committees  of  questions  before  the  next 
meeting. 

5.  Conferences  with  various  departments  of  my  office; 
McFaddcn,  of  the  War  Trade  Board;  S.  M.  P'elton,  Director- 
General  of  Railways;  Labor  Bureau,  etc. 

•Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  i,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  for  the  period  August 
14  to  31,  inclusive: 

I.  I  have  not  sent  you  a  report  of  daily  activities  since 
August  13,  about  the  time  I  left  for  a  week's  rest.  This  has 
been  partly  because  I  have  been  in  such  constant  personal 
touch  with  you  and  the  most  important  work  of  the  last  ten 
days  has  been  done  at  your  direction.  The  minutes  of  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  which  are  in  your 
possession,  will  indicate  my  activities  as  the  American  mem- 
ber at  the  meeting  held  on  the  21st  of  August.  The  next  meet- 
ing of  this  Board  will  take  place  at  its  Headquarters  at 
Coubert  to-morrow.  For  the  purpose  in  part  of  making  a 
proper  exposition  to  the  chiefs  of  the  services  and  to  the  Staffs 
at  G.H.Q.  and  S.O.S.,  as  well  as  for  the  purpose  of  more 
clearly  defining  my  relation  as  member  of  the  Board  to  the 
General  Staff,  I  prepared  on  August  24  a  letter  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief which  I  discussed  with  him  last  Sunday. 
The  Commander-in-Chief  has  written  me  that  he  discussed 
the  question  late  Sunday  afternoon  with  Marshal  Foch  of  the 
functioning  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  My 
letter  was  also  sent,  with  General  Pershing's  permission,  to 
Colonel  Beadon,  the  representative  of  the  British  army  on  the 
Board,  and  to  General  Travers-Clarke,  who  is  in  command  of 
the  British  rear,  with  the  purpose  of  bringing  about  some  ar- 


1 66    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

rangement  by  which  the  command  of  the  British  rear  would 
be  more  directly  represented  on  the  Board.  As  a  result,  Gen- 
eral Travers-Clarke  is  coming  from  British  Headquarters  to 
meet  me  this  afternoon  and  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
Board  to-morrow.  The  English  are  showing  evidence  of  a 
proper  realization  of  the  important  work  of  the  Board.  Mar- 
shal Foch  made  the  request,  as  you  know,  of  the  British 
army  as  well  as  of  General  Pershing  for  a  direct  control  by 
Payot  of  the  entire  Allied  rear.  This  course  might  have  been 
desirable  under  the  policy  of  commingling  the  troops  of  the 
different  armies  because  of  insufficient  strength  in  the  British 
and  French  armies.  It  is  not  now  deemed  desirable,  since 
this  policy  has  been  altered  in  favor  of  one  segregating  the 
armies  of  different  nationalities  as  far  as  possible  because  ex- 
perience shows  that  they  fight  better  in  this  way.  This  ren- 
ders it  necessary  that  the  final  control  of  the  line  of  communi- 
cations of  the  separate  armies  be  in  the  Commanders-in-Chief 
of  the  armies,  and  therefore  has  further  emphasized  the  mili- 
tary importance  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  as 
being  the  only  agent  through  which  there  can  be  secured  cen- 
tral control  of  the  tactical  and  strategic  handling  of  certain 
transportation  and  supplies  which  should  function  in  relation 
to  the  three  armies  considered  as  one.  Through  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply,  with  the  unanimous  consent  provi- 
sion in  existence,  the  respective  Commanders-in-Chief  have 
the  final  control  of  the  situation  as  regards  the  supply  of  their 
respective  armies  and  yet  at  the  same  time  the  machinery 
exists  to  put  in  motion  a  certain  central  control  in  the  rear 
which  Foch  is  very  desirous  of  effecting.  From  General 
Pershing's  letter  to  me  relative  to  his  interview  with  Marshal 
Foch,  I  judge  that  there  is  entire  understanding  between  them 
on  this  subject,  collateral  evidence  of  which  I  get  in  the  very 
earnest  cooperation  of  Payot  in  the  work  of  the  Committee. 
Now  if  we  can  secure  from  the  British  the  same  cooperation 
with  the  Board  which  it  has  from  the  French  and  Amer- 
ican interests  its  useful   work  will   be   greatly  expedited. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  167 

I  repeat  all  this  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  record  as  you  are 
familiar  with  it. 

2.  In  connection  with  the  hay  crisis,  at  your  direction  I 
took  up  the  matter  with  Payot,  who  kindly  came  to  Paris  to 
see  me  in  connection  with  the  matter.  I  was  glad  to  hear  from 
you  yesterday  that  the  French  accordingly  commenced  to  re- 
deliver hay.  I  am  this  morning  in  receipt  of  your  instructions 
to  secure  consent  of  the  French  to  buy  hay  locally  along  the 
railway  lines  over  which  we  operate,  which  will  have  my  im- 
mediate attention.  In  connection  with  this  hay  question  I 
arranged  and  attended  with  our  proper  officers  a  conference 
wuth  M.  Tardieu,  who  was  accompanied  by  both  the  French 
civil  and  military  authorities,  the  details  of  which  conference 
have  been  fully  reported  to  you  already. 

3.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  presented  in  your  pres- 
ence and  under  your  direction  on  Friday  to  the  chiefs  of  the 
services,  a  plan  for  expediting  purchases  of  the  A.E.F.  by 
categories.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  desires  to  express 
his  appreciation  of  your  immediate  comprehension  and  grasp 
of  the  plan  and  of  your  action  in  connection  with  the  order. 
In  no  conference  which  he  has  had,  either  with  the  chiefs  of 
the  services  or  any  other  of  the  innumerable  meetings  with 
our  allies,  has  so  important  a  matter  been  so  quickly,  ex- 
peditiously, and  judiciously  settled  as  you  settled  this  one. 
The  General  Purchasing  Agent  realizes  that  in  receiving  wide 
powers  from  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  the  responsibility  for  carr>'ing 
them  out  may  involve  difficulties  which  he  and  his  Staff  may 
not  fully  have  foreseen.  Some  of  the  consolidated  purchases 
which  we  have  made  through  a  system  obtained  by  common 
consent  heretofore  have  been  of  tremendous  importance  to 
the  A.E.F. .notably  the  early  purchase  of  machine  tools  which 
may  almost  be  said  to  have  saved  our  mechanical  situation. 
What  we  have  done  heretofore  at  the  cost  of  many  negotia- 
tions, much  patience,  and  considerable  perplexity  will  now  be 
made  easier  through  this  express  authority,  but  the  G.P  A. 
desires  to  state  that  his  personnel,  though  extremely  able,  is 


i68    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

small  and  doing  about  all  it  can  do  now.  While,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  G.P.A.,  we  can  improve  our  purchasing  process 
by  this  order,  it  must  not  be  regarded  as  anything  revolution- 
ary of  existing  practice  and  methods  and  thus  be  made  the 
basis  of  unreasonable  expectations.  Gradually  and  by  the 
exercise  of  both  tact  and  perseverance  we  believe  we  have 
succeeded  in  establishing  business  methods  without  using  our 
power  to  obstruct  the  needs  of  the  army  in  its  great  emergen- 
cies. As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  building-up  of  an  organization  by 
the  G.P.A.  in  neutral  and  Allied  countries  to  supplement  the 
effort  to  collect  supplies,  and  his  continuous  contact  in  con- 
sequence with  the  imperative  and  actual  necessities  of  the 
supply  situation,  have  enabled  him  to  maintain  the  proper 
perspective  when  considering  the  imposition  upon  the  system 
of  the  admirable  methods  of  a  normal  business  organization 
operating  under  normal  conditions  in  normal  times.  In  war 
there  must  be  a  constant  compromise  between  system  and 
emergency.  It  has  been  an  advantage  to  the  G.P.A.  during 
the  past  year  to  have  continually  felt  at  all  times  the  pressure 
of  the  necessity  of  system  and  of  supply  emergency.  As  a 
sheer  matter  of  duty  the  necessity  of  securing  a  supply  has 
always  taken  precedence  over  the  application  of  theoretical 
system.  As  the  end  of  the  war  approaches  the  G.PA.  de- 
sires, as  the  imposition  of  theoretical  system  becomes  easier, 
to  live  up  to  his  responsibility  in  this  connection,  but  he  does 
not  want  the  impression  created,  when  he  suggests  the  grad- 
ual tightening  of  the  ideal  systematic  control,  that  it  is  a 
reflection  upon  the  magnificent  work  that  under  great  diffi- 
culties the  army  has  accomplished  in  the  last  year.  What 
would  have  become  of  the  army  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  pur- 
chase on  this  side  during  the  past  year  of  over  six  million 
tons  of  material,  I  do  not  know.  And  that  great  achievement 
must  not  be  lost  sight  of  by  the  critics  in  the  coming  times  of 
peace,  who  might  inquire  why  we  did  not  institute  a  year  ago 
an  authority  only  possible  of  proper  execution  now. 

4.  In  regard  to  the  question  of  the  construction  of  an  organ- 


LIEUTENANT   DALTON   H.   MULLONEY 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  169 

ization  for  handling  in  a  better  way  the  financial  business  of 
the  army,  enabling  us  to  make  estimates  of  financial  require- 
ments for  the  benefit  of  the  Treasury  and  to  apply  collec- 
tive accounting  and  preserve  and  coordinate  collective  rec- 
ords, I  note  on  my  desk,  as  I  expected,  insuperable  objections 
to  the  form  of  order  which  was  prepared  by  Colonel  Cutcheon 
and  which  I  transmitted  tentatively  for  consideration.  As 
soon  as  Colonel  Cutcheon  returns  from  England  I  desire  him 
to  come  to  Tours  to  consult  you,  and  as  you  have  an  entire 
conception  of  what  should  be  put  into  effect  you  can  suggest 
the  form  of  order  which  will  secure  proper  ends  without  a 
confusing  interference  with  the  independent  functioning  of 
the  services.  The  solution  will  be  analogous  to  the  one  which 
under  your  guidance  has  been  worked  out  in  connection  with 
purchase  by  categories. 

5.  In  regard  to  the  matter  of  handling  negotiations  with  the 
French  Government,  which  has  been  under  verbal  discussion 
between  the  Commander-in-Chief,  yourself,  and  myself, 
Colonel  Logan  and  Mr.  Stettinius  will  establish  their  offices 
adjoining  mine.  All  of  us  must  keep  informed  of  the  general 
state  of  negotiation.  The  whole  subject  is  one  which  cannot 
be  definitely  and  scientifically  settled  by  means  of  orders. 
Even  if  Colonel  Logan  were  not  at  my  Headquarters  and  were 
located  with  M.  Tardieu,  our  complete  agreement  as  to  what 
is  necessary  would  prevent  the  initiation  by  him  of  negotia- 
tions with  the  chiefs  of  services  asked  for  by  the  French 
Government  without  consultation.  So  far  as  the  relations  of 
Colonel  Logan,  Mr.  Stettinius,  and  myself  are  concerned,  the 
fact  that  we  shall  have  offices  in  the  same  building  makes  pos- 
sible that  personal  contact  which  will  prevent  any  confusion. 
We  shall  keep  Mr.  Stettinius  informed  of  our  supply  situation 
and  our  army  requirements,  and  while  we  have  nothing  to  do 
ourselves  with  those  civil  activities  and  agencies  represented 
by  Mr.  Stettinius,  a  common  exchange  of  information  be- 
tween us  is  essential  to  the  most  useful  service  on  the  part  of 
all.  As  the  accessions  to  the  numbers  of  troops  increases,  the 


170    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

necessity  for  contact  with  the  French  in  the  discussion  of 
sources  of  supply  and  their  coordinated  use  increases.  Colonel 
Logan,  with  his  long  experience  with  and  wide  knowledge  of 
the  situation  of  the  A.E.F.,  will  be  an  invaluable  aid  to  the 
general  situation  in  Paris.  Please  issue  no  orders  in  this 
connection,  as  it  will  only  embarrass  Logan,  Stettinius,  and 
myself. 

6.  Changing  again  the  form  of  this  letter  to  a  report  of  ac- 
tivities rather  than  a  discussion  of  methods  and  policies,  I 
have  been  engaged  in  conferences  with  George  McFadden, 
representative  of  the  War  Trade  Board,  in  connection  with 
supplies  in  Spain  and  Portugal.  In  this  connection  I  am  soon 
to  receive  a  letter  from  him  requesting  on  behalf  of  the  State 
Department  a  forecast  of  our  requirements  for  the  next  year 
in  Switzerland  as  well  as  Spain,  the  securing  of  which  with 
reasonable  accuracy  is  difficult  and  emphasizes  the  necessity 
of  the  institution  of  the  organization  in  connection  with  which 
Colonel  Cutcheon  is  working. 

7.  When  at  Tours  I  discussed  with  Colonel  Smither  the  de- 
tail of  moving  the  Labor  Bureau  from  the  control  of  the 
G.P.A.  The  recruiting  of  civilian  labor  was  placed  upon  the 
G.P.A.  because  an  emergency  existed  and  the  machinery  for 
meeting  it  did  not  exist.  In  the  earlier  stages  of  this  work  it 
was  necessary  that  it  be  located  at  Paris.   I  have  taken  great 

■ride  in  the  building  of  this  organization  and  in  its  successful 
functioning  under  the  able  management  of  Major  Jackson. 
Its  success  in  securing  labor  at  a  critical  time  was  marked. 
When,  however,  the  amount  of  the  labor  recruited  and  ob- 
tained by  us  reached  large  figures,  it  seemed  to  be  necessary 
that  it  be  administered  more  directly  in  contact  with  your 
Staff  and  at  my  suggestion  it  was  removed  to  Tours.  Since  I 
cannot  keep  in  close  touch  with  it  at  this  distance,  and  since 
others  are  in  much  better  position  to  assume  its  entire  con- 
trol, I  ask  that  such  arrangement  be  made.  In  connection 
with  the  negotiations  of  the  Labor  Bureau  with  the  foreign 
Governments,  which  has  been  in  my  hands  in  the  past,  I  can 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  171 

continue  to  act  at  the  request  of  the  officer  directly  in  charge 
of  labor,  who  will  have  no  hesitation  in  calling  upon  me,  since 
I  am  in  closer  contact  with  the  governmental  agencies  with 
which  we  must  deal. 

8.  I  think  the  above  will  better  convey  an  idea  of  what  has 
occupied  my  endeavors  and  attention  than  an  effort  to  fur- 
ther detail  the  numerous  conferences  and  activities  and  rou- 
tine duties  of  my  position.  I  could  not  recollect  them  after 
such  a  lapse  of  time  even  if  it  were  desirable  for  me  to  re- 
count them.  In  the  future  I  shall  endeavor  to  make  this  re- 
port more  regular,  although  close  personal  touch  with  you 
over  the  telephone  and  otherwise  renders  it  the  less  important 
than  otherwise  would  be  the  case. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engitieers,  N.A. 

September  4,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  2 
and  3: 

I.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hodges  and  Major 
Roop,  of  my  Staff,  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  Prepara- 
tion of  matter  for  presentation  and  discussion  at  meeting  of 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  in  the  afternoon.  The  minutes 
of  the  meeting  of  the  Board  will  be  forwarded  to  you  as  soon 
as  completed  and  agreed  upon  by  the  members.  The  chief 
subject  of  discussion  was  the  new  motor  transport  rules  and 
organization  for  the  Allied  armies  which  are  practically  ready 
for  submission  to  the  Commanders-in-Chief  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Board  for  their  adoption.  Only  a  few 
minor  details  are  as  yet  unagreed  upon  by  the  Board.  General 
Pershing  and  General  Petain  attended  the  meeting.  Both 
discussed  the  work  of  the  Board,  and  in  addition  General 
Petain  discussed  the  motor  transport  reserve  proposed  for  the 
Allied  armies.    General  Travers-Clarke  accompanied  me  to 


172        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

the  meeting.  General  Moseley,  G-4,  G.H.Q.,  Colonel  Smither, 
Assistant  Chief  of  Staff,  G-4,  S.O.S.,  and  Colonel  Nutt  were 
also  present. 

2.  On  Tuesday  morning  I  had  conference  with  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief in  Paris.  He  prepared  a  letter  to  Lord 
Milner,  copy  of  which  I  attach  herewith,  in  which  he  re- 
quested direct  representation  of  the  British  General  Staff 
upon  the  Board  in  addition  to  representation  of  the  British 
War  Office. 

3.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  I 
brought  up  again  the  hay  situation,  stating  that  you  had 
found  it  necessary,  owing  to  the  failure  of  the  French  to  de- 
liver hay  as  per  their  agreement,  to  requisition  sixteen  thou- 
sand tons  of  hay  from  the  United  States.  Through  Colonel 
Krauthoff  I  had  had  a  request  made  of  the  French  civil  author- 
ities to  authorize  us  to  purchase  hay  locally  in  order  to  obviate 
the  necessity  of  requisitioning  hay  from  America  in  case  of  the 
French  failure  to  furnish  hay.  Colonel  Vemey,  the  local 
French  Sous-Intendant  handling  the  hay  situation,  stated 
that  he  could  not  possibly  allow  any  purchases  of  hay  locally 
in  France  as  it  would  only  create  competition  and  serious 
trouble.  I  accordingly  took  this  matter  up  with  Colonel  Payot, 
and  at  my  request  he  came  to  Paris  yesterday  to  make  an 
appeal  to  the  Minister  of  Ravitaillement  to  give  us  the  author- 
ity we  desire.  He  read  me  the  form  of  the  request  which  he 
thought  wise  to  present  and  I  approved  same.  He  has  not  as 
yet  reported  the  results  of  his  conference.  All  this  action  was 
taken  in  accordance  with  your  direction  by  letter  dated 
August  31. 

4.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  on 
Spanish  and  Swiss  supply  situation  and  the  pending  com- 
mercial treaties  with  those  countries  to  be  made  under  the 
direction  of  the  State  Department,  Washington,  and  the  War 
Trade  Board. 

5.  Conference  with  Captain  Jay  relative  to  order  for  pur- 
chases under  categories.   Conference  with  Mr.  Stettinius  on 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  173 

same  matter  and  also  on  the  proposed  financial  organization 
of  the  A.E.F. 

6.  Conference  with  Colonel  Krauthoff  on  potato  situation. 

7.  Conference  with  Colonel  Logan  on  flour  situation  con- 
cerning which  he  desires  to  confer  with  you  upon  the  occasion 
of  your  next  visit. 

8.  Conference  with  M.  Tardieu  and  M.  Ganne  in  con- 
nection with  removal  of  boats  at  St.  Nazaire,  as  directed  by 
you.   They  promise  early  and  favorable  action. 

9.  Conference  with  Colonel  Payot  in  regard  to  jurisdiction 
of  the  Military^  Board  of  Allied  Supply  over  certain  questions 
as  related  to  French  civil  authorities  controlling  the  French 
rear  outside  the  Zone  of  Advance. 

10.  Conference  with  Mr,  Dwight  Morrow,  Inter-Allied 
Maritime  Transport  Council,  in  connection  with  information 
desired  by  him  on  the  forage  question. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  5,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F, 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  4,  5 : 

1,  Time  chiefly  devoted  to  routine  affairs  of  office. 

2,  Conference  with  Commandant  Lescannes,  in  charge  of 
forage  for  French  army,  who  was  on  his  way  to  St.  Nazaire, 
After  conference  with  Colonel  Payot  and  Commandant 
Lescannes  I  expect  a  favorable  reply  to  our  request  to  buy 
hay  locally,  to  be  delivered  to  me  at  the  meeting  of  the  Mili- 
tary Board  of  Allied  Supply  on  next  Monday,  together  with 
the  rules  and  regulations  in  connection  with  the  same.  If  this 
favorable  result  is  obtained  it  will  be  due  to  Colonel  Payot 
and  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  since  the  Minister  of 
Ravitaillement  had  declined  to  give  us  the  authority. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


174    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

September  7,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To :       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  6: 

1.  Conference  with  the  members  of  my  Staff  in  connection 
with  methods  for  local  purchases  throughout  France. 

2.  Conference  with  Mr.  Stettinius  relative  to  the  need  of  a 
central  financial  organization  for  the  A.E.F.,  recommenda- 
tion for  the  establishment  of  which  I  have  made  and  is  now 
under  consideration  by  you.  In  this  connection  and  for  the 
purpose  of  record,  I  desire  to  state  that  the  General  Purchas- 
ing Agent  has  made  every  effort  to  assist  the  Treasury  De- 
partment in  the  collecting  of  information  which  it  desires 
from  time  to  time.  Because  of  a  lack  of  a  financial  organiza- 
tion authorized  by  order  and  possessed  of  the  machinery  to 
collect  this  information,  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  and 
his  Staff  in  a  spirit  of  accommodation  have  secured  what- 
ever information  v/as  possible  at  the  request  of  the  Treasury 
officials.  He  has  not  had  the  machinery  for  collecting  and  re- 
cording the  information.  The  inadequacy  of  such  informa- 
tion as  he  has  furnished  arises,  as  stated  before,  out  of  the 
lack  of  a  central  financial  organization,  and  the  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  makes  this  record  in  order  to  call  attention  to 
the  fact  that  his  office  has  been  under  no  obligation  by  order  to 
do  this  work,  has  no  facilities  to  perform  it,  and  must  not  be 
criticized  in  connection  therewith  on  this  account.  I  think 
Mr.  Stettinius  fully  understands  this,  and  for  that  reason  has 
joined  with  Colonel  Cutcheon  and  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent  in  urging  the  issuance  of  orders  establishing  a  financial 
organization  which  will  have  the  authority  to  compel  the 
different  services  to  keep  such  records  and  transact  their 
business  in  such  a  way  as  will  enable  the  army  to  furnish  the 
other  departments  of  the  Government  the  information  neces- 
sary- for  their  cooperation  in  satisfying  its  financial  needs.  The 
organization  is  also  important  from  the  standpoint  of  internal 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  175 

business  administration  of  the  army.  For  instance,  at  the 
present  time  the  Chief  Statistician  of  the  General  Purchasing 
Board,  whom  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  appointed  merely 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  statistical  records  of  his  own 
office,  has  been  asked  to  furnish  information  to  the  Treasury 
Department  as  to  unpaid  obligations  of  the  A.E.F.  arising 
out  of  the  business  of  the  different  departments  and  for  es- 
timates of  the  value  of  the  material  furnished  the  A.E.F.  by 
the  English  and  the  French  Governments.  As  a  matter  of 
accommodation  the  Chief  Statistician  is  endeavoring  to 
secure  this  information.  The  office  of  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent,  however,  must  not  be  criticized  for  the  inadequacy  of 
this  information  which  arises  out  of  the  lack  of  a  central 
financial  organization  of  the  army,  the  establishment  of  which 
you  expect  to  authorize. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  7,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  7: 

1.  Conference  with  Mr.  Stettinius  in  relation  to  proposed 
financial  organization  for  the  A.E.F. 

2.  Conference  with  Colonel  Bricker  and  Colonel  Krauthoff 
relative  to  transfer  of  machine-tool  purchasing  department 
from  Quartermaster  to  Ordnance  Department. 

3.  Consideration  of  report  by  French  Mission  as  to  re- 
quested concessions  in  connection  with  domestic  transporta- 
tion, which  will  be  taken  up  with  you  later. 

4.  Other  routine  work  not  connected  with  matters  of 

policy. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engitieers,  N.A. 


176        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

September  ii,  191 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  7,  8. 

9,  and  10: 

1.  September  7:  Made  personal  report  of  my  activities  for 
this  day  to  you  on  Saturday  evening,  which  is  fortunate,  as  I 
cannot  seem  to  recall  any  of  them  at  this  time. 

2.  September  8:  Accompanied  you  to  Meaux  in  the  morn- 
ing and  after  leaving  you  at  that  point  went  to  Soissons, 
No>'on,  and  Compiegne. 

3.  September  9:  Spent  morning  in  conference  on  several 
important  matters  of  supply  and  went  to  Coubert  for  meeting 
of  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  While  there,  as  I  have 
already  wired  you,  received  permission  for  the  A.E.F.  to  buy 
hay  locally  in  France  along  its  lines  of  communication,  the 
regulations  regarding  method  of  purchase  being  now  drawn 
up.  I  hope  to  forward  these  to  you  to-morrow.  The  meeting 
was  chiefly  devoted  to  the  question  of  securing  a  better  under- 
standing in  regard  to  60  cm.  railroad  construction  and  re- 
ser\-es  behind  the  lines.  Conclusions  in  connection  therewith 
will  be  found  in  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  the  Board  which 
will  be  sent  you.   Remained  at  Coubert  during  the  night. 

4.  September  10:  Went  with  other  members  of  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply  to  the  school  for  motor  transports 
established  by  the  Board  at  Rozoy.  At  present  at  this  school 
there  are  officers  as  follows:  13  Americans,  10  British,  10 
French,  5  Belgian,  and  2  Italian.  The  chiefs  of  the  motor 
transport  services  of  the  three  armies  having  urged  an  agree- 
ment on  rules  of  circulation  behind  the  Allied  lines,  I  wired 
the  Commander-in-Chief  a  suggested  memorandum  to  be 
sent  to  General  Foch  making  possible  the  immediate  promul- 
gation of  the  orders,  copy  of  which  telegram  I  sent  you. 
Conference  with  Commandant  Lescannes,  Chief  of  French 
Forage,  in  connectic^i  with  crisis  in  the  hay  supply,  concern- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  177 

ing  which  you  wired  me.  Also  conferred  with  Payot  on  this 
subject  at  meeting  of  Board.  Both  these  officers  will  attend 
the  conference  on  the  hay  situation  called  by  M.  Tardieu  for 
this  afternoon,  at  which  I  shall  also  be  present.  Returned  to 
Paris  Tuesday  afternoon. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  14,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  11, 
12,  and  13: 

1.  During  these  days  have  been  working  on  the  hay  situa- 
tion and  holding  conferences  with  all  parties  concerned.  These 
conferences  will  culminate  this  afternoon  in  a  meeting  be- 
tween yourself,  General  Rogers,  Commandant  Lescannes, 
and  myself,  at  which  time  I  think  you  will  have  the  situation 
developed  in  your  mind  for  your  decision  as  to  policy.  Your 
anticipation  of  the  crisis  and  prompt  action  therein  in  requisi- 
tioning 16,000  tons  of  hay  a  month  ago  has  been  fully  justi- 
fied by  developments. 

2.  Conference  with  Stettinius  relative  to  proposed  finance 
organization  for  A.E.F.  It  is  hoped  that  this  matter  can  be 
discussed  with  you  this  afternoon. 

3.  Conference  between  Payot,  Bricker,  and  myself  relative 
to  settlement  between  French  and  Americans  in  connection 
with  the  pooling  of  ammunition  at  the  front.  Took  Bricker 
with  me  to  Coubert  yesterday  for  consultation  with  Payot. 

4.  Meeting  of  Military'  Board  of  Allied  Supply  held  yes- 
terday, the  minutes  of  which  will  be  duly  sent  you.  Was  able 
to  announce  reorganization  of  motor  transport  system  of 
A.E.F.  now  in  progress  giving  greater  facility  to  emergency 
movements.  Also  authorized  by  G.H.Q.  to  announce  possible 
contribution  in  October  to  mobile  automobile  reserve  of  the 
Allied  armies.    Board  decided  to  establish  60  cm.  railway 


178        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

staff  school  starting  October  i.  Also  stated  to  Board  that 
Commander-in-Chief  expected  to  be  able  to  approve  within 
the  next  few  days  the  unified  regulations  applying  to  the  three 
armies  for  motor  transport  behind  the  lines,  all  but  a  few  de- 
tails of  the  same  having  been  satisfactory.  In  view  of  the  ad- 
vance of  our  lines  every  effort  is  being  made  to  hasten  action 
in  this  matter. 

5.  Conference  relative  to  purchasing  officers  in  neutral 
countries. 

6.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  relative 
to  animals  from  Spain. 

7.  Attention  is  called  to  the  good  work  of  the  Purchasing 
Agent  for  England,  through  whom  we  are  about  to  receive 
10,000  standards  of  lumber  from  Great  Britain. 

8.  The  Commanding  General,  S.O.S.,  is  congratulated 
upon  the  magnificent  success  of  the  First  Field  Army  under 
command  of  General  Pershing  and  reminded  again  that 
further  developments  are  indicating  that  the  Commanding 
General,  S.O.S.,  was  a  determining  element  at  Chateau- 
Thierry  with  his  Marine  Brigade  and  in  command  of  the 
Second  Division  in  what  history  will  record  as  the  Gettys- 
burg of  this  war. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  16,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F, 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  14 

and  15: 

The  scope  of  operations  of  the  office  of  the  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  has  become  so  extensive  that  it  is  to  be  remem- 
bered that  the  report  of  activities  of  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent  as  an  individual  covers  but  a  fraction  of  the  activities 
of  his  office.  The  work  of  his  office  formerly  attended  to  by 
the  General  Purchasing  Agent  in  person,  in  the  earlier  days 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  179 

of  the  A.E.F.,  has  of  necessity  passed  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  various  boards  and  divisions  of  the  office  subject  only  to 
his  general  supervision.  The  result  of  this,  therefore,  is  con- 
stant conference  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  with  his 
Staff  which  it  is  difficult  for  him  to  epitomize  into  a  record  of 
activities.  The  general  subjects  connected  with  policy  under 
discussion  and  study  by  his  office  are  the  functions  of  the 
Board  of  Replacements,  the  initiation  of  purchases  by  cate- 
gory, means  of  increasing  supplies  procured  in  Europe,  nego- 
tiation with  the  French  of  supply  questions,  etc. 

1.  Received  notice  that  the  Government  of  Portugal  has 
acceded  to  our  request  to  recruit  five  thousand  laborers  in 
that  country. 

2.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hodges  and  Major 
Roop,  of  the  Staff  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply, 
relative  to  reorganization  of  the  army  transport  system  be- 
hind the  lines  and  the  reorganization  of  the  transport  system 
of  the  American  army  to  accord  therewith.  The  General 
Purchasing  Agent  expects  to  leave  for  Chaumont  this  after- 
noon to  discuss  certain  features  of  this  with  the  board  ap- 
pointed at  General  Headquarters  to  finally  iron  out  the  small 
differences  yet  to  be  agreed  upon  and  which  when  settled  will 
make  it  possible  for  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  sign  the 
agreement  with  the  other  Allied  commanders  establishing  the 
system. 

3.  Prepared  recommendation  for  restatement  of  duties  of 
General  Purchasing  Agent  and  General  Purchasing  Board,  in 
response  to  telegram  from  General  Headquarters.  This  re- 
statement incorporates  duties  which  have  been  added  since 
General  Orders  31  was  issued.  I  attach  herewith  this  recom- 
mendation for  restatement,  since  it  should  be  considered  by 
you  before  its  incorporation  in  the  general  outline  of  adminis- 
trative staff  duties. 

4.  Conference  Saturday  afternoon  between  the  C.G., 
S.O.S.,  General  Rogers,  Commandant  Lescannes,  and  the 
G.P.A.  on  the  subject  of  local  purchases  of  hay.   The  C.G., 


1 80        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

S.O.S.,  after  listening  to  the  discussion,  epitomizedthe  situa- 
tion as  follows: 

(i)  The  French  Government  agrees  to  furnish  3.3  kilos  of 
hay  per  day  per  American  animal  at  regulating  stations. 

(2)  The  difference  between  3.3  kilos  per  day  and  the 
American  ration  of  5  kilos  per  day  must  under  pres- 
ent agreement  be  imported  from  America. 

(3)  The  CG.,  S.O.S.  will  consider  whether  or  not  he  will 
decide  to  assist  the  French  in  furnishing  the  3.3  kilos 
of  hay  per  day  by  independent  means  of  collection 
along  the  American  line  of  communications. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  20,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  16, 

17,  18,  19,  and  20: 

1.  September  16,  17,  and  18  were  devoted  to  trip  to  Gen- 
eral Headquarters  in  connection  with  expediting  the  final  set- 
tlement, by  the  Board  of  the  General  Staff,  of  the  details 
remaining  unadjusted  with  the  French  of  the  regulations 
for  the  use  of  motor  transports  behind  the  Allied  lines,  which 
regulations  it  is  imperative  to  have  promulgated  as  soon  as 
possible.  The  necessity  for  the  regulations  increases  as  our 
lines  advance  farther  from  the  railheads.  At  my  request  the 
Commander-in-Chief  added  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hodges  as  a 
member  of  the  Board.  I  expect  to  meet  General  Moseley 
to-day  and  am  much  in  hopes  that  we  can  finally  settle  the 
matter  then  so  that  the  rules  can  be  promulgated  at  least  in 
the  French  and  American  armies. 

2.  Conferred  with  members  of  the  General  Staff  relative  to 
operations  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  Also  con- 
ferred with  General  McAndrew,  General  Davis,  General 
Penn,  and  General  Eltinge.   Discussed  motor  transport  rules 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  W.  D.  CONNOR 
Commanding  General,  Service  of  Supply 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  i8i 

with  representatives  of  G-4  in  General  Moseley's  absence. 
Reached  Paris  on  the  evening  of  September  18, 

3.  September  19:  Had  conference  with  members  of  my  Staff 
on  subjects  not  related  to  policy. 

4.  Notified  by  General  Travers-Clarke  that  Major-General 
Ford  has  been  named  as  Member  of  the  Military  Board  of 
Allied  Supply  to  represent  British  General  Staff,  which  act 
ends  successfully  our  long  campaign  with  the  British  for 
proper  recognition  of  and  cooperation  with  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply.  This  action  was  taken  in  response  to 
a  letter  from  General  Pershing  to  Lord  Milner,  copy  of  which 
I  sent  you. 

5.  Discussed  with  General  McKinstry  the  question  of  60 
c.m.  railway  school  recently  established  by  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply  which  will  open  October  i.  General 
McKinstry  will  send  representatives  to  the  school  for  in- 
struction. 

6.  Conference  with  H.  P.  Davison,  head  of  American  Red 
Cross,  in  connection  with  cooperation  of  Red  Cross  with  the 
army.  The  Commander-in-Chief  has  issued  an  order  under 
which  Red  Cross  officials  when  properly  qualified  and  ex- 
amined will  become  officers  in  the  A.E.F. 

7.  Conference  in  connection  with  proposal  to  consolidate 
under  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  the  procurement  of 
civilian  clerical  and  stenographic  assistance  for  the  A.E.F. 
in  Paris. 

8.  Conference  with  Chief  of  Technical  Board. 

9.  Conference  on  motor  transport  supplies  from  Italy  with 
representatives  of  Motor  Transport  Department  and  office 
Staff. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

P.S.  SeMemher  20:  At  conference  between  General  Mose- 
ley,  Colonel  Payot,  Colonel  Hodges,  and  myself,  this  after- 
noon, we  finally  reached  agreement  on  form  of  inter-Allied 


1 82    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

rules  to  govern  Allied  army  road  traffic.  As  it  is  desirable  to 
promulgate  these  rules  immediately,  I  have  sent  Colonel 
Hodges  with  a  copy  of  them  to  General  Pershing's  Headquar- 
ters for  his  signature. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  21,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  21: 

1.  Aside  from  routine  duties  of  office,  principally  concerned 
this  day  in  conference  with  Colonel  Payot  regarding  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  The  French  Minister  of 
Ravitaillement  is  planning  to  address  a  letter  to  General 
Pershing,  to  be  accompanied  by  an  explanatory  letter  from 
myself,  suggesting  that  a  request  be  made  upon  the  Allied 
Governments  to  apportion  certain  supplies  to  the  Allied 
armies  through  the  agency  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied 
Supply.  It  is  the  feeling  evidently  of  the  French  Department 
of  Ravitaillement  that  the  present  method  of  inter-Allied  dis- 
tribution of  certain  centrally  controlled  food  supplies  such  as 
wheat,  the  distribution  being  apportioned  according  to  the 
needs  of  the  Allied  armies  located  not  only  in  France,  but  in 
Italy,  Asia,  and  Africa,  is  inadequate  chiefly  because  the  rela- 
tive needs  of  these  armies  are  not  accurately  and  centrally 
determined.  The  matter  is  one  which  requires  thoughtful 
consideration,  which  cannot  be  fully  given  until  the  receipt  of 
the  letter  from  the  French  Ministry  of  Ravitaillement.  When 
this  letter  is  received  a  copy  will  be  sent  to  you,  together  with 
any  remarks  of  my  own,  so  that  it  can  be  concurrently  con- 
sidered by  you  when  transmitted  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief. 

2.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  with 
reference  to  cable  from  Ambassador  Willard  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief asking  for  an  expression  of  his  policy  in  con- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  183 

nection  with  the  granting  of  trade  concessions  to  Spain  in  re- 
turn for  animals.  The  Commander-in-Chief  has  sent  in- 
structions to  me  to  prepare  suggested  reply  for  him  to  said 
cable  stating  in  general  terms  that  his  policy  is  that  every 
concession  should  be  made  necessary  to  get  the  animals.  Mr. 
McFadden  and  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  are  therefore 
considering  the  matter  in  connection  with  preparation  of  the 
cable  endeavoring  to  transmit  the  virile  purpose  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief without  lessening  its  force  and  at  the  same 
time  without  breaking  the  numerous  thin-shelled  diplomatic 
eggs  which  bestrew  the  situation. 

3.  Conference  on  motor  truck  contract  situation  in  Italy 
and  other  supply  situations. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  23,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  22 : 

1.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  relative 
to  animal  situation  in  Spain.  Cable  from  representative  of 
War  Trade  Board  in  Spain  indicates  that  that  Government  is 
prepared  to  make  concessions  on  shipment  of  animals  in  con- 
sideration of  certain  agreements  on  part  of  the  United  States 
which  can  probably  be  secured.  The  suggestion  is  also  made 
that  Spain  will  allow  shipment  of  mature  animals  if  agreement 
is  made  to  replace  them  with  young  animals  from  France. 

2.  Conference  with  Colonel  Hodges  relative  to  visit  with 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  to  whom  he  submitted  the  inter- 
Allied  motor  transport  regulations  prepared  by  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply.  Subject  only  to  such  modifications 
as  are  necessarily  imposed  by  the  form  of  our  organization  of 
Staff  services,  the  Commander-in-Chief  approved  the  regula- 
tions governing  road  tralific  in  the  zone  of  operations,  the 
regulations  governing  the  hauling  of  material  by  mechanical 


1 84    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

transports  and  the  regulations  governing  troop  movements  by 
mechanical  transports. 

3.  Routine  duties  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  23,  191 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  23: 

1.  Prepared  letter  to  M.  Loucheur,  Ministere  de  I'Arme- 
ment,  suggesting  disposition  by  the  American  authorities  of 
the  surplus  output  of  Fiat  motors  not  required  by  Italy.  This 
is  in  answer  to  a  proposition  by  M.  Loucheur  to  let  the  dis- 
position be  determined  by  France.  A  copy  of  my  letter  to 
M.  Loucheur  is  herewith  enclosed. 

2.  Conference  on  animal  situation  in  Spain. 

3.  Conference  relative  to  French  request  to  manufacture 
rolling  kitchens  for  the  A.E.F.  in  France,  which  matter  is  in 
more  or  less  of  an  unsatisfactory  shape. 

4.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hodges  relative  to 
matters  to  be  considered  at  meeting  to-morrow  of  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply  at  Coubert.  The  Commander-in- 
Chief  has  directed  that  an  additional  number  of  our  officers 
be  sent  to  the  Motor  Transport  School  at  Rozoy  established 
by  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply. 

5.  Various  conferences  on  current  business  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

[Enclosure] 

September  23,  1918 

From:     The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To 3  M.    Loucheur,    Ministere   de    I'Armement   et   des 

Fabrications  de  Guerre. 
Subject:  Fiat  production  at  Turin,  Italy. 

I.  Commandant  Varaigne  has  handed  me  a  copy  of  your 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  185 

letter  to  him  under  date  of  September  18,  1918,  with  reference 
to  the  production  of  the  Fiat  Automobile  Company  at 
Turin,  Italy,  and  while  such  letter  is  not  directed  to  me  there 
are  matters  in  it  of  such  importance  to  the  interests  of  the 
American  army  that  in  view  of  our  extremely  pleasant  per- 
sonal relations  I  am  taking  the  liberty  of  replying  to  you 
directly. 

2.  The  community  of  interest  between  the  French  and 
American  armies  is  so  great  and  the  understanding  as  to  the 
necessity  of  coordination  between  the  two  Governments  so 
complete  that  the  suggestions  I  shall  make  will,  I  am  sure,  be 
received  by  you  in  the  spirit  of  generous  cooperation  which 
you  have  always  shown. 

3.  It  would  seem  to  me  that,  since  the  raw  materials  neces- 
sary to  enable  the  Fiat  plant  to  turn  out  their  contemplated 
production  will  in  the  last  analysis  come  from  America,  the 
American  authorities  charged  with  their  consideration  will  re- 
gard it  as  desirable  that  they  shall  handle  the  matter  of  ob- 
taining from  the  Italian  Government  any  surplus  of  motor 
transports  which  can  be  spared.  It  is  necessary,  of  course,  as 
you  state,  that  the  French  and  American  armies  should  not  be 
placed  in  the  position  of  competing  for  any  part  of  the  output 
of  the  Fiat  plant  which  the  Italian  Government  is  able  to 
cede.  It  is  also  true  that  it  will  be  necessary  in  the  future  to 
transport  large  numbers  of  trucks  from  America  to  satisfy  the 
needs  of  the  French  army  as  well  as  those  of  the  A.E.F.  In 
view  of  the  close  community  of  interest,  it  becomes  practi- 
cally immaterial  whether  the  supply  of  motor  transports 
to  be  brought  over  in  the  future  be  entirely  for  the  use  of 
the  American  army  or  for  the  joint  use  of  the  French  and 
American  armies,  provided  that  arrangements  are  made  be- 
tween us  to  divide  the  supply  whether  arising  from  the  Fiat 
production  or  from  importation  from  America,  according  to 
the  respective  needs  of  the  two  armies. 

4.  In  view  of  the  attitude  of  the  representatives  of  our  own 
Government  who  control  the  raw  materials  and  who  should 
be  consulted  in  connection  with  the  distribution  of  any  prod- 
uct resulting  from  the  manufacture  thereof,  will  you  not 
rely  upon  our  disposition  to  reciprocate  the  generous  treat- 
ment accorded  to  us  by  the  French  in  the  past  and  consent 
that  the  representative  of  the  American  army  in  Italy  shall 
make  the  arrangements  to  secure  from  the  Italian  Govern- 
ment for  both  America  and  France  as  great  a  proportion  as 


1 86        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

possible  of  the  production  of  the  Fiat  plant?  When  this  is 
accomplished  it  should  not  be  difficult  for  us  to  arrange  to 
divide  the  proportion  so  acquired  according  to  the  respective 
needs  of  the  two  armies. 

5,  If  this  suggestion  meets  with  your  favor  I  should  be 
very  glad  to  have  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cutcheon,  Chairman 
of  the  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,  and  Captain 
Mechem,  Purchasing  Agent  for  Italy,  call  upon  you  to  more 
fully  explain  the  situation. 

With  assurance  of  my  personal  regard. 

Respectfully 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

September  26,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  24, 

25,  and  26: 

I.  Attended  meeting  of  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  at 
Coubert  on  Tuesday.  Presented  General  Pershing's  written 
approval  of  Allied  road  regulations  for  motor  transports, 
Allied  regulations  governing  transportation  of  troops  by 
mechanical  transports,  and  Allied  regulations  governing 
movement  of  material  by  mechanical  transports.  Major- 
General  R.  Ford,  the  additional  British  member  on  the  Board, 
was  present.  He  made  a  proposal  for  the  study  of  the  trans- 
portation question.  I  will  discuss  this  matter  with  you  per- 
sonally on  Saturday,  but  I  sincerely  hope  our  Transportation 
Department  will  cooperate  to  the  utmost.  The  suggestion  for 
the  consideration  of  this  subject  does  not  originate  with  me, 
but  with  the  British,  who  have  very  definite  objects  in  mind 
and  specific  information  and  constructive  suggestions  to  sub- 
mit therewith.  They  are  not  satisfied  that  the  most  economical 
use  is  now  being  made  of  present  rail  transportation  facilities, 
especially  in  the  matter  of  cars.  I  am  enclosing  copy  of  my 
letter  of  the  25th  to  the  Fourth  Section,  General  Stafif,  in  this 
connection,  asking  for  detail  of  officers.    General  Ford  is 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  187 

evidently  not  satisfied  that  a  proper  picture  of  the  situation 
has  been  made.  There  is  no  disposition  to  unduly  extend 
the  authority  of  the  Board  or  to  interfere  with  the  present 
authorities  controlling  transportation.  The  first  authorities 
in  connection  with  English  transportation  will  be  represented 
on  the  sub-committee  proposed,  and  I  am  sure  that  our  Trans- 
portation Department  will  meet  the  suggestion  cordially 
through  representation  on  the  committee  of  those  in  author- 
ity and  entirely  conversant  with  the  situation.  The  Board 
established  a  60  cm.  railway  school  following  the  lines  of  the 
Motor  Transport  School  which  is  proving  so  advantageous. 
General  Pershing  states  that  it  is  his  desire  to  have  if  possible 
up  to  one  hundred  of  our  officers  take  the  course  of  instruction 
in  connection  with  the  reorganization  of  our  army  mechanical 
transport  system  now  being  efTected.  Upon  the  request  of 
G.H.Q.  I  made  request  of  the  French  that  the  American 
officers  who  had  completed  the  course  and  have  a  knowledge 
of  the  situation,  now  detailed  with  the  French  army,  be  im- 
mediately returned  to  the  American  First  Army.  This  was 
arranged.  Progress  was  made  in  connection  with  the  coordi- 
nation of  telegraph  and  telephone  in  the  Allied  rear.  I  regard 
General  Ford  as  a  ver>'  important  addition  to  the  personnel 
of  the  Board.  As  authoritatively  representing  the  British 
General  Staff  he  completes  with  Colonel  Beadon,  who  repre- 
sents the  English  War  Office,  the  proper  British  representa- 
tion. 

2.  Conference  with  M.  Tardieu  in  connection  with  the 
animal  emergency  at  the  front,  as  directed  by  telegram  from 
General  Pershing.  The  French  will  make  an  effort  to  supply 
this  emergency  need  as  requested.  I  am  awaiting  telegraphic 
advice  from  General  Pershing  as  to  the  exact  number  of 
animals  imperatively  required.  I  also  conferred  with  Tar- 
dieu on  the  Spanish  animal  situation. 

3.  Conference  with  representative  of  M.  Loucheur  in  con- 
nection with  joint  attitude  of  the  French  and  American  Gov- 
ernments toward  Italy  relating  to  the  output  of  motor  trucks 


1 88    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

of  the  Fiat  Company.  A  satisfactory'  agreement  was  reached 
by  which  an  endeavor  will  be  made  to  augment  the  produc- 
tion to  be  allotted  between  the  French  and  American  armies. 

4.  Conference  between  the  Purchasing  Agent  for  England 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cutcheon  relative  to  the  representa- 
tions to  be  made  to  the  English  Government  covering  method 
of  expediting  settlement  for  English  purchases. 

5.  Consideration  of  important  telegram  received  from 
ofifice  of  purchasing  agent  for  England  relative  to  position  of 
Crosby  and  Summers,  which  has  led  the  British  Government 
to  place  an  embargo  upon  all  steel  shipments  to  the  A.E.F. 
I  am  not  in  possession  of  sufficient  information  as  yet  to  com- 
ment upon  this  proceeding  or  to  give  advice  in  connection 
therewith,  but  am  calling  the  matter  to  the  attention  of  the 
War  Trade  Board  and  Mr.  Stettinius  representing  the  Secre- 
tary of  War.  As  a  general  proposition,  however,  the  General 
Purchasing  Agent  recognizes  no  benefits  to  arise  from  ultima- 
tums between  allies. 

6.  Conference  with  the  Chief  Statistician,  office  of  General 
Purchasing  Agent,  as  to  method  of  collecting  statistics  on 
tonnage  saved  by  purchases  in  Europe. 

7.  Various  important  conferences  with  Stafif  of  office,  but 
upon  matters  not  connected  with  policy. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A- 

[Enclosure] 

September  25,  19 18 
From:     American  Member,  M.B.A.S. 
To :  Assistant  Chief  of  Staff,  4th  Section,  G.H.Q.,  A.E.F 

Subject:  Railroad  cars. 

1.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply , 
September  24,  191 8,  the  enclosed  note  was  presented  by  the 
British  representative  on  the  M  .B . A.S.  and  discussed  at  length. 

2.  With  regard  to  the  section  concerning  railroad  cars 
(trucks)  it  was  decided  that  a  sub-committee  should  be  ap- 
pointed to  study  this  question  in  detail  and  that  the  first 
meeting  of  this  sub-committee  would  be  held  on  Thursday, 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  189 

October  3,  1918,  at  10  a.m.,  at  which  meeting  of  the  sub-com- 
mittee the  members  of  the  M.B.A.S.  would  assist. 

3.  It  was  agreed  that  the  first  information  to  be  obtained 
and  analyzed  would  be  the  determination  of  the  minimum 
tonnage  of  supplies  of  all  characters  which  it  is  absolutely 
essential  to  transport  for  each  of  the  Allied  armies.  The  fur- 
ther development  of  the  question  will  be  to  study  the  most 
efficient  methods  of  employing  the  available  rolling  stock  for 
the  transport  of  this  tonnage. 

4.  It  is  requested  that  a  member  of  this  sub-committee  be 
appointed  to  represent  the  Fourth  Section  of  the  General 
Staff,  G.H.Q.,  and  another  member  to  represent  the  S.O.S., 
preferably  from  the  department  of  the  D.G.T.,  and  that  these 
officers  be  present  at  the  meeting  of  10  a.m.,  October  3,  with 
all  useful  information  upon  the  subject  of  tonnage  of  necessary 
supplies  of  all  characters  to  be  transported,  available  rolling 
stock  and  present  methods  of  utilizing  rolling  stock. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A, 

September  27,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:  The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  27 : 
I,  Conference  with  office  Staff  on  method  of  making  more 
fully  available  for  the  common  use  of  the  army  surplus  stocks 
collected  by  the  different  branches  of  the  service.  Tele- 
phoned you  concerning  this  and  will  discuss  it  with  you  to- 
morrow. It  would  seem  from  the  supply  standpoint  that  the 
American  army  will  never  be  in  a  position  where  it  will  be 
more  timely  to  draw  upon  existing  reserves.  These  reserves 
should  be  considered  in  relation  to  the  common  needs  as 
well  as  in  relation  to  the  needs  of  a  particular  branch  of  the 
service.  For  instance,  tools  to  be  used  in  repairing  motor 
parts  may  be  more  essential  to  the  Motor  Transport  De- 
partment from  a  military  standpoint,  considering  the  needs 
at  the  front,  than  the  needs  for  machine  tools  in  some  other 
department  as  related  to  a  more  distant  need.  As  so  often  in 
the  past  in  connection  with  the  constant  compromise  between 


190        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

the  common  needs  and  the  needs  of  a  particular  branch  of 
the  army,  this  matter  should  be  carefully  but  firmly  handled. 
The  chief  of  the  independent  department  even  for  the  satis- 
faction of  an  overwhelming  military  necessity  will  as  a  rule 
yield  only  stubbornly  his  stocks  in  reserve  which  he  has  ac- 
cumulated to  make  sure  the  future  success  of  his  own  unit. 
He  will  regard  it  as  penalizing  efficiency  and  foresightedness 
if  his  reserve  is  eaten  into  to  supply  a  more  sorely  pressed 
department.  Your  suggestion  made  over  the  telephone  this 
morning  is  clearly  the  best  method  of  procedure.  Instead  of  a 
general  order  covering  the  situation,  and  which  will  incite  the 
apprehension  and  arouse  the  opposition  of  the  chiefs  of  the  in- 
dependent services,  this  matter  should  be  approached  through 
particular  emergencies  and  the  common  treatment  enforced 
as  if  it  were  an  exception,  which  in  most  cases  it  will  be.  How- 
ever, the  steadily  increasing  pressure  upon  your  Services  of 
Supply  will,  before  the  winter  is  over,  make  necessary  consid- 
erable inter-departmental  as  well  as  inter-Allied  coordination. 

2.  Conference  relative  to  English  embargo  on  steel  prod- 
ucts, which  matter  has  since  been  reported  as  satisfactorily 
adjusted. 

3.  Conference  with  Purchasing  Agent  for  Great  Britain  in 
regard  to  conduct  and  organization  of  office  of  Purchasing 
Agent  for  Great  Britain,  A.E.F. 

4.  Conference  with  General  Rogers  and  Purchasing  Agent 
for  Great  Britain  on  English  coal  situation  in  relation  to  the 
needs  of  the  A.E.F. 

5.  Notified  by  M.  Tardieu  that  in  response  to  General 
Pershing's  request  arrangements  are  about  perfected  to  fur- 
nish 10,000  additional  animals  to  American  First  Army  in 
addition  to  the  6000  animals,  which  latter  should  reach  Gen- 
eral Pershing  next  week. 

6.  Conferences  with  office  Staff  on  routine  matters  not 
connected  with  matters  of  policy. 

Charles  G  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  191 

September  28,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  28: 

1.  Conference  with  yourself  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jay, 
Assistant  General  Purchasing  Agent,  on  the  subject  of  inter- 
departmental cooperation  in  supplying  emergency  needs  from 
reserve  stocks. 

2.  Conference  with  M.  Ganne  relative  to  telegram  re- 
ceived by  me  from  General  Pershing  stating  that  his  imme- 
diate needs  for  horses  are  25,000  and  more  if  possible.  Wired 
him  that  the  French  will  endeavor  to  secure  him  this  num- 
ber and  that  I  thought  they  would  be  successful. 

3.  Conference  with  Mr.  Edward  Stettinius,  Special  Repre- 
sentative of  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  connection  with  matters 
relating  to  Spanish  purchases  which  will  come  up  in  the 
course  of  the  munitions  conference  to-day. 

4.  Conference  with  Logan  relative  to  negotiations  with 
French  on  horse  supply  at  the  front. 

5.  Conference  with  Chairman  of  Board  of  Contracts  and 
Adjustments,  relative  to  matters  upon  which  I  shall  address 
you  written  memorandum. 

6.  In  accordance  with  telegram  received  from  Smither 
wired  Payot  asking  that  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  take 
up  at  Thursday's  meeting  entire  question  of  the  transporta- 
tion and  handling  of  explosives  as  pertains  to  A.E.F.  Will 
notify  Director-General  of  Transportation  and  Chief  of 
Ordnance  as  soon  as  answer  is  received. 

7.  Followed  your  example  and  wired  congratulations  to 
Commander-in-Chief  now  at  the  front.  Am  at  present  await- 
ing your  return  to  the  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


192    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

October  i,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  September  29 
and  30: 

1.  Conference  with  office  Staff  relative  to  form  of  recom- 
mendation to  you  relative  to  interchange  of  surplus  stocks 
between  departments.  In  this  connection  I  wired  you.  The 
General  Purchasing  Agent  realizes  the  difficulties  in  connec- 
tion with  this  matter,  but  feels  that  in  some  way  it  will  be 
possible  to  secure  the  necessary  progress  in  this  direction. 

2.  Conference  on  the  horse  question.  Wired  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief that  the  French  are  about  to  enforce  an 
additional  requisition  in  France  so  as  to  give  him  thirty 
thousand  horses  between  October  7  and  November  i.  Logan 
and  I  suggested,  if  he  had  not  done  so  already  and  had  urgent 
immediate  need  for  animals,  that  arrangements  might  be 
requested  through  Marshal  Foch  for  an  immediate  equaliza- 
tion of  animals  between  the  French  and  American  armies. 
We  have  reason  to  believe  that  such  a  request  will  be  at 
least  partially  granted,  thus  giving  immediate  results. 

3.  Consideration  of  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  mat- 
ters in  connection  with  the  coming  meeting  of  the  Board  on 
Thursday.  Major-General  Ford,  having  become  the  sole 
English  member  of  the  Board,  is  making  a  number  of  con- 
structive and  useful  suggestions. 

4.  Conference  with  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Contracts 
and  Adjustments  relative  to  adjustment  of  contractual  and 
financial  relations  with  Great  Britain  arising  out  of  the  fur- 
nishing of  supplies  and  transportation.  The  number  of  com- 
plicated and  important  questions  arising  out  of  the  transac- 
tion of  business  under  the  emergency  of  war  is  increasing 
rather  than  diminishing  in  England  and  every  possible  effort 
is  being  made  to  create  better  machinery  for  their  adjustment. 
The  need  for  additional  and  expert  personnel  is  keenly  felt. 


COLONEL  J.  P.  McADAM 
General  Staff 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  193 

5.  Consultation  upon  the  matter  of  additional  personnel 
for  the  office  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent.  The  oppor- 
tunity which  was  given  me  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  by  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  at  the  time  when  you  were  Chief  of 
Staff,  to  have  commissioned  in  America  a  few  men  of  marked 
qualifications,  is  no  longer  open  as  I  understand  it.  With  the 
constantly  increasing  work  of  this  office  and  the  number  of 
new  business  and  financial  questions  arising,  the  absence  of 
sufficient  personnel  can  result  only  in  the  neglect  of  important 
matters.  So  many  of  our  requests  for  help  have,  for  reasons 
unquestionably  good,  been  denied  that  I  wired  you  to-day 
asking  if  it  was  not  possible  for  us  to  be  allowed  to  go  to  Blois 
to  personally  examine  casual  officers  there  in  relation  to  their 
fitness  for  our  special  work.  Our  work  is  of  such  a  special 
nature  that  the  granting  of  this  request  would  be  greatly 
appreciated  by  us,  since  to  make  proper  selections  of  the 
casual  officers  for  it  personal  contact  and  examination  is 
practically  indispensable. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

October  2,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of   my  activities  on  October  i 
and  2: 

I.  Conference  wath  M.  Ganne  relative  to  delivery  of 
horses  to  First  Field  Army,  A.E.F. ,  telegram  having  been 
received  from  the  Commander-in-Chief  asking  for  details  as 
to  time  of  deliver^'.  Made  report  as  to  this  to  Commander- 
in-Chief  by  following  telegram: 

Delivery  of  the  remainder  of  the  six  thousand  horses  for 
the  Seventh  Division  will  be  completed  to-day.  There  will 
remain  on  the  old  agreement  eighteen  hundred  horses  for  the 
79th,  91st,  and  92d  Divisions  and  they  will  be  delivered 
within  three  days,  thus  completing  the  old  agreement.  We  re- 


194    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

ceived  word  from  Foch's  Headquarters  that  within  two  days 
they  will  notify  us  as  to  when  delivery  will  commence  on  the 
additional  thirty  thousand  horses. 

2.  Conference  with  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Technical  Board 
relative  to  work  of  the  Technical  Board  in  connection  with 
their  September  report. 

3.  Conference  with  General  Donaldson,  Inspector  Gen- 
eral, S.O.S.,  and  Colonel  Magruder,  relative  to  extension  of 
work  of  the  Bureau  of  Accounts. 

4.  Conference  with  the  Chairman,  Board  of  Contracts  and 
Adjustments. 

5.  Conference  with  Chairman,  Bureau  of  Reciprocal  Sup- 
ply, with  reference  to  matters  now  under  its  consideration. 

6.  Conference  with  Colonel  Logan  on  matters  connected 
with  M.  Tardieu  brought  to  our  attention  by  the  Services  of 
Supply. 

7.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hodges  relative 
to  matters  to  be  taken  up  at  to-morrow's  meeting  of  the  Mili- 
tary Board  of  Allied  Supply,  especially  in  connection  with 
Colonel  Smither's  telegram  suggesting  consideration  by  the 
Board  of  the  handling  and  transportation  of  explosives  for 
the  A.E.F. 

Charles  G.  Da\stes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

October  4,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  October  3 

and  4: 

I.  October  3:  Attended  sessions  of  the  Military  Board  of 
Allied  Supply  at  Coubert  in  morning  and  afternoon,  return- 
ing to  Paris  in  the  evening.  The  railroad  transportation 
problem  was  under  consideration.  Colonel  Wilgus  repre- 
sented our  Transportation  Department.  A  committee  com- 
posed of  transportation  officers  of  each  army  was  agreed  upon 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  195 

to  start  Sunday  on  a  tour  of  inspection  of  methods  of  un- 
loading freight  from  cars  on  all  fronts  with  a  view  of  correct- 
ing present  situation  and  consequent  delays  in  discharging 
freight.  Other  matters  acted  upon  were  in  connection  with 
projects  already  started  and  are  set  forth  in  the  minutes  of 
the  meetings  of  the  Board  which  will  be  sent  you. 

2.  Conference  with  Colonel  Payot  relative  to  situation  in 
the  American  rear.  Payot  leaves  Petain's  Staff  to  become  a 
member  of  General  Foch's  Staff  this  month.  He  desires 
closer  liaison  with  Moseley  for  whose  ability  he  has  a  high 
regard. 

3.  October  4:  Conference  on  matter  of  inter-departmental 
exchange  of  stocks. 

4.  Conference  with  Summers,  of  War  Industries  Board, 
relative  to  certain  tonnage  matters  which  will  be  submitted  to 
you  for  your  consideration  in  due  time. 

5.  Conference  with  Stettinius  relative  to  Bureau  of  Re- 
placements. 

6.  Conference  with  McFadden  with  reference  to  Spanish 
mule  situation  and  activities  of  our  State  Department  in 
cooperation  with  the  A.E.F. 

7.  Consideration  of  report  of  Technical  Board  which  has 
been  forwarded. 

8.  Conference  with  Major  Moore  and  McFadden,  War 
Trade  Board,  in  connection  with  Allied  lumber  convention 
with  the  Swiss  Government,  which  the  State  Department  de- 
sires held  in  the  United  States.  Prepared  letter  outlining  the 
position  of  the  State  Department,  as  indicated  by  McFadden, 
to  clear  up  misunderstanding  of  representatives  of  the  British 
Government. 

9.  Conference  with  Major  Moore  relative  to  railroad  tie 
and  lumber  situation  with  the  French.  Wired  General  Jad- 
win  recommending  that  ties  cut  by  our  troops  and  now  held 
in  reserve  be  turned  over  to  the  French,  since  the  French  were 
delivering  to  us  the  lumber  in  an  amount  equal  to  chat  pro- 
duced by  our  troops  in  ties.   The  suggestion  has  been  made 


196        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

that  this  order  should  be  made  by  the  Military  Board  of 
Allied  Supply,  but  my  view  is  that  it  should  be  made  by 
General  Jadwin.  Wired  him  that  if  he  desired  subsequent 
ratification  by  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  I  would 
guarantee  it. 

10.  Conference  with  Lieutenant  de  Sieyes,  who  brought  me 
a  communication  from  Colonel  Payot,  which  communication 
I  will  discuss  with  you  personally  on  your  arrival  here  Mon- 
day. It  contains  several  constructive  suggestions  worthy  of 
most  serious  consideration. 

11.  Telephonic  communications  with  you  on  extra -juris- 
dictional subjects. 

12.  Conference  with  Chairman,  Board  of  Contracts  and 
Adjustments,  relative  to  authority  of  the  Board  discussed  in 
communication  of  Chairman,  Board  of  Contracts  and  Ad- 
justments, forwarded  to  you  by  me  to-day. 

13.  Conference  with  Logan  and  Colonel  Williams  on  horse 
situation.  The  present  prospect  is  that  French  will  not  make 
additional  requisition  for  horses  until  November  15,  which 
means  long  delay  in  their  receipt  by  General  Pershing.  It 
seems  that  Clemenceau  takes  the  position  that  another  requi- 
sition cannot  be  made  until  another  census  of  animals  is 
taken,  which  is  the  cause  of  the  prospective  delay.  Logan  is 
doing  splendid  work  with  Tardieu  in  connection  with  bring- 
ing pressure  for  the  requisition. 

14.  Conference  with  Colonel  Davidson,  of  English  army, 
relative  to  letter  received  by  me  from  General  Travers-Clarke 
asking  for  suggestions  in  connection  with  his  proposed  plan 
for  creating  a  central  purchasing  agency  in  France  for  the 
B.E.F. 

15.  Various  other  activities  not  related  to  policy  and 
incident  to  an  unusually  busy  day. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  197 

October  12,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  October  5,  6,  7, 

8,  9,  10,  II,  and  12: 

1.  On  orders  from  the  Commander-in-Chief  left  for  his 
Headquarters  at  the  front  with  General  McAndrew,  Chief  of 
Staff,  on  Saturday,  October  5,  arriving  in  the  evening.  Was 
with  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  along  the  front  in  connec- 
tion with  various  matters  on  October  6,  7,  8,  9,  and  10. 
Secured  the  signature  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  revised 
form  of  approval  of  motor  transport  rules  behind  the  Allied 
lines.  Also  considered  with  him  certain  changes  in  the  form 
of  organization  of  the  service  of  the  rear  in  the  Zone  of  the 
Advance.  This  was  in  connection  with  certain  suggestions  of 
Colonel  Payot  in  command  of  the  French  rear,  the  same  to  be 
submitted  to  General  Moseley  for  his  consideration.  Made 
various  trips  to  different  points  of  the  front  in  this  connec- 
tion. At  direction  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  endeavored  to 
facilitate  movement  of  construction  material  for  the  extension 
of  the  normal  gauge  railroad  from  Aubreville  to  Varennes, 
the  same  being  secured  through  the  cooperation  of  Colonel 
Payot  from  St.  Dizier.  Discussed  other  matters  with  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, concerning  which  the  Commanding  Gen- 
eral, S.O.S.,  has  already  been  informed.  Visited  Varennes,  La 
Forge,  Montfaucon,  St.  Mihiel,  Verdun,  and  Cheppy.  On  Oc- 
tober 10  M.  Tardieu,  M.  Ganne,  and  Colonel  Logan  arrived  and 
the  horse  and  tie  situations  and  methods  for  dealing  with  the 
same  were  discussed  with  the  Commander-in-Chief.  Stayed 
at  night  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  at  Headquarters. 

2.  October  ii  a?id  12:  Conference  with  Colonel  Jay  and 
Colonel  Cutcheon  relative  to  change  in  organization  of  Bureau 
of  Accounts  and  other  matters  of  ofifice  organization. 

3.  Conference  with  Colonel  Logan  relative  to  negotiations 
for  horses. 


198    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

4.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  relative 
to  methods  of  securing  animals  from  Spain. 

5.  Conference  with  General  Moseley  on  matters  connected 
with  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  and  its  relation  to 
G-4,  G.H.Q.;  also  matters  relative  to  supplies  at  the  front. 

6.  Conference  with  Colonel  Maud,  of  the  English  army, 
relative  to  letter  of  General  Travers-Clarke  asking  for  sug- 
gestions concerning  the  establishment  of  a  central  purchasing 
agency  for  the  English  army  in  Paris. 

7.  Second  conference  with  General  Moseley  on  same  mat- 
ters as  above. 

8.  Consideration  of  tonnage  statements  which  I  am  for- 
warding you. 

9.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hodges  relative  to 
matters  to  come  before  the  meeting  of  the  Militar>'  Board  of 
Allied  Supply  on  Monday. 

10.  Conferences  relative  to  the  negotiations  existing  be- 
tween the  Belgian  Government  and  the  A.E.F.  looking  to  the 
acquisition  by  the  former  of  certain  rolling  stock  after  the  war 
in  consideration  of  present  cessions  of  Belgian  rolling  stock 
to  the  A.E.F. 

11.  Conference  with  representative  of  Motor  Transport 
Service  relative  to  acquisition  of  additional  motors  from 
French. 

12.  Routine  work  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Colonel,  Engineers,  N.A. 

October  17,  191 8 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  October  13,  14, 

15,  and  16: 

I.  Conference  with  Major-General  Ford,  British  army, 
relative  to  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply 
and  other  matters  on  inter-army  purchasing  policy.   Major- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  199 

General  Ford  raised  a  most  interesting  point  in  connection 
with  the  use  of  Havre,  Rouen,  and  Dunkirk  in  connection  with 
importations  for  the  American  army.  The  suggestions  he 
makes  in  this  connection  are  of  such  importance  that  before 
presenting  the  matter  to  you  I  shall  again  confer  with  General 
Ford  at  British  General  Headquarters  on  Saturday  in  order 
that  I  may  be  sure  that  I  have  conveyed  properly  his  sugges- 
tions. 

2.  Attended  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply 
at  Coubert.  Extent  and  importance  of  the  questions  con- 
sidered are  such  that  no  attempt  will  be  made  here  to  re- 
capitulate them.  Reference  is  made  to  the  minutes  of  the 
meeting  of  the  Board  which  will  be  sent  to  you  in  due 
course. 

3.  Conference  with  Mr.  Edward  R.  Stettinius  relative  to 
proposed  establishment  of  finance  section  of  General  Staff, 
concerning  which  you  have  written  me. 

4.  Conference  with  M.  Tardieu  and  M.  Loucheur  relative 
to  shipment  of  aeroplanes  to  Japan,  concerning  which  you 
wired  me.   I  wired  you  in  reference  to  this  matter. 

5.  Conference  relative  to  inspection  of  material  pur- 
chased for  the  A.E.F.  in  England.  Have  sent  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Cutcheon  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jay  to  England  in 
connection  with  this  and  other  important  matters  relating 
to  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments. 

6.  Conference  with  Dwight  Morrow,  Allied  Maritime 
Transport  Council,  relative  to  certain  matters  of  tonnage  in 
connection  with  the  inquiries  made  by  Lieutenant-Genera* 
Travers-Clarke,  B.E.F.  Shall  go  to  British  General  Head- 
quarters in  this  connection  to-morrow,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Morrow  and  Mr.  McFadden,  of  the  War  Trade  Board.  At 
this  time  shall  also  discuss  with  General  Travers-Clarke  the 
plans  he  has  under  consideration  for  the  establishment  of  a 
central  purchasing  agency  for  the  B.E.F.  in  France. 

7.  Conference  with  Dr.  Thompson  and  Assistant  Secre- 
tary of  Agriculture  Vrooman  as  directed  by  you.  Went  over 


200        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

various  questions  with  them,  particularly  the  question  of 
horse  supply.  Gave  them  the  report  on  this  subject,  pre- 
pared by  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  for  their 
study. 

8.  Conference  with  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Rublee  relative  to 
information  which  they  desired  from  the  Military  Board  of 
Allied  Supply.  Mr.  Cotton  appeared  before  the  Board  and 
asked  for  the  passage  of  a  resolution  relative  to  meat  reserves 
in  the  United  States,  which  will  appear  in  the  minutes  of  the 
meeting  of  the  Board. 

9.  Telephone  conference  with  General  Moseley  relative  to 
order  of  Marshal  Foch  establishing  an  office  in  his  Head- 
quarters under  Colonel  Payot  in  connection  with  the  rear  of 
the  Allied  armies.  General  Moseley  is  naturally  concerned  as 
to  the  exact  intentions  of  Marshal  Foch  in  regard  to  the  pres- 
ent system  of  supply  for  the  First  American  Field  Army  in 
connection  with  which  he  fears  the  effect  of  undue  interfer- 
ence. The  situation  has  not  yet  fully  developed.  Moseley  has 
received  unofficial  notice  that  the  French  trucks  loaned  the 
First  American  Army  are  about  to  be  withdrawn  by  Foch. 
If  this  is  done  the  truck  situation  will  become  most  acute. 
Shall  bend  every  effort  here  to  increase  the  supply. 

10.  Colonel  Payot  informs  me  that  he  expects  to  come  here 
for  a  conference  with  me  in  the  near  future. 

11.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  and 
Major  Moore,  relative  to  negotiation  of  the  commercial 
treaty  covering  wood  for  the  Allied  Governments  from 
Switzerland.  Have  requested  that  Major  Moore  at  this  office 
be  sent  to  Washington  to  properly  present  the  situation  to 
our  Government  authorities. 

12.  Conference  with  members  of  office  force  regarding  or- 
ganization of  office  and  transaction  of  general  business  not 
connected  with  questions  of  policy. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  201 

October  22,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:  The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  October  17, 
18, 19,  20,  21,  and  22.  The  General  Purchasing  Agent  has  been 
continuously  away  from  his  office  on  duty  as  outlined  below 
for  the  last  five  days.  It  is  with  difficulty  that  he  will  cata- 
logue his  activities  from  recollection,  but  he  will  make  the 
attempt  to  do  so  in  such  a  way  as  to  have  this  report  take  the 
place  of  correspondence  with  the  Commanding  General, 
S.O.S.,  otherwise  necessary. 

I,  At  the  invitation  of  Lieutenant-General  Travers-Clarke 
and  Major-General  R.  Ford,  of  British  General  Head- 
quarters, went  on  Thursday  to  Montreuil,  taking  with  me 
Mr.  Dwight  Morrow,  of  the  Allied  Maritime  Transport 
Council,  and  Mr.  George  McFadden,  representative  of  the 
War  Trade  Board.  First,  when  there  settled  principles  of 
the  relationship  between  the  new  central  purchasing  agency 
for  the  B.E.F.  in  France,  to  be  established  in  Paris,  and  my 
own  office;  second,  agreed  to  recommend  to  you  the  adoption 
of  a  very  constructive  suggestion  by  Lieutenant-General 
Travers-Clarke  in  relation  to  a  joint  understanding  be- 
tween the  English  Government  and  the  A.E.F.  upon  the 
methods  of  computing  costs  of  construction  in  France  as  well 
as  cost  of  articles  requisitioned  upon  the  French  and  English 
Governments.  General  Travers-Clarke's  idea  is  that,  if  the 
English  and  Americans  jointly  arrive  at  uniform  methods  of 
computing  costs,  an  immense  difficulty  will  be  removed. 
These  methods  can  be  arrived  at  by  continuous  collaboration. 
If,  when  the  new  department  of  the  Staff  is  created  a  British 
organization  similar  to  our  own  Board  of  Contracts  and  Ad- 
justments and  accounting  bureau  functions  in  the  same  build- 
ing and  in  close  contact  with  it  in  connection  not  only  with 
French  but  English  accounts,  many  differences  will  naturally 
vanish  by   such  joint   preparation  which    otherwise  might 


202        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

develop  by  independent  action.  The  possibilities  of  such  a 
course  in  the  facilitation  and  dispatch  of  business  as  well  as 
avoiding  complications  in  future  settlements  will  immediately 
appeal  to  you,  in  my  judgment.  General  Travers-Clarke  will 
send  authorized  representatives  to  consider  this  matter  fur- 
ther, and  if  you  approve  the  principle  the  matter  will  proceed. 
2.  General  Pershing  having  notified  me  that  he  proposes  to 
hold  me  primarily  responsible  for  the  handling  of  the  horse 
situation  with  Spain  and  charged  me  to  proceed  along  emer- 
gency lines  to  gather  horses,  —  telephone  to  this  efifect  hav- 
ing reached  me  while  at  British  General  Headquarters,  —  I 
took  the  responsibility  of  making  a  demand  upon  the  English 
Government  for  25,000  horses.  Held  a  conference  on  this 
subject  with  General  Travers-Clarke,  General  Ford,  and 
General  May,  the  latter  being  in  charge  of  the  English 
Remount  Service.  Mr.  Dwight  Morrow  was  also  at  this  con- 
ference. I  told  them  that  General  Pershing's  orders  were  that 
this  matter  of  horses,  since  upon  it  depended  our  ability  to 
advance  to  any  considerable  extent  our  lines,  must  take 
priority  over  ever>'thing  else;  that  since  he  had  made  a  similar 
offer  to  the  French  within  the  last  week  to  induce  them  to 
make  requisition  for  horses  for  his  army  in  France,  I  should 
wire  him  asking  him  to  make  a  formal  request  of  Haig  for 
25,000  horses  from  the  English  Government  to  be  delivered 
within  the  next  month  and  to  be  replaced  by  him  horse  for 
horse  by  April  i.  General  Travers-Clarke  and  General  May 
stated  that  if  General  Pershing  would  send  this  telegram  they 
hoped  to  be  able  to  supply  the  horses,  and  General  Travers- 
Clarke  said  that  he  would  go  to  England  immediately  to  take 
up  the  matter.  At  General  Pershing's  Field  Headquarters  the 
night  before  last,  which  I  visited  immediately  upon  returning 
from  British  Headquarters,  he  notified  me  that  he  had  sent 
the  telegram  to  Haig  and  that  it  had  been  answered  stating 
that  Lieutenant-General  Travers-Clarke  was  proceeding  to 
England  in  connection  with  the  matter.  I  notified  Morrow,  of 
the  Allied  Maritime  Transport  Council,  that  if  this  request 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  203 

was  granted  General  Pershing  took  the  responsibility  for 
changing  tonnage  allotment  programmes  to  accord  therewith, 
and  of  this  General  Pershing  made  personal  confirmation 
to  me.   Shall  keep  you  advised  of  the  results  of  these  actions. 

3.  In  view  of  the  release  from  enemy  fire  and  submarine 
attack  of  the  port  of  Dunkirk,  General  Ford  asked  the  con- 
sideration of  the  matter  of  a  redistribution  of  port  facilities  by 
the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  To  this  consideration 
by  our  Military  Board  the  French  Minister  of  Commerce 
objected,  and  the  French  have  asked  to  negotiate  the  matter 
directly  with  the  British.  In  this  matter  the  A.E.F.  is  vitally 
concerned.  General  Ford  states  that  he  does  not  wish  to  take 
this  matter  up  with  the  French  until  a  thorough  consideration 
of  it  with  us  before  decision.  The  possible  saving  of  trans- 
portation by  proper  port  adjustment  under  the  new  circum- 
stances is  so  great  that  it  is  suggested  you  immediately  take 
this  matter  up  for  personal  consideration  in  connection  with 
the  letter  of  General  Ford  to  me  and  his  statement  of  what  is 
involved,  which  I  attach  to  this  report.  General  Ford  has 
prepared  his  statement  in  accordance  with  the  suggestion 
which  I  made  to  him,  I  stated  to  him  that  in  order  to  give  you 
and  the  Commander-in-Chief,  as  well  as  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Allied  armies,  the  full  benefit  of  the  views  of  the 
B.E.F.,  he  should  present  them  based  upon  two  assumptions: 
First,  the  proper  use  and  a  possible  saving  in  transportation 
resulting  from  the  use  of  Dunkirk  as  a  port  if  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Allied  armies  made  no  different  general  mili- 
tary disposition  of  the  troops  than  that  existing  at  present. 
Second,  the  proper  use,  and  possible  saving  of  transportation 
in  connection  therewith,  of  Dunkirk  based  upon  a  different 
assignment  of  combat  territory  in  France  for  the  different 
armies,  which,  of  course,  is  a  matter  for  the  consideration  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Allied  armies.  By  such  a 
statement  the  question  is  properly  raised  for  discussion.  Gen- 
eral Ford  has  followed  this  suggestion  in  the  attached  papers. 

4.  At  his  Headquarters  the  other  night  the  Commander-in- 


204    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Chief  again  told  me  that  he  should  hold  me  primarily  respon- 
sible for  the  management  of  the  negotiations  for  horses  from 
Spain,  England,  and  France,  in  connection  with  the  various 
efforts  being  made  by  the  A.E.F.  to  increase  its  supply.  The 
situation  in  Spain  is,  I  think,  already  in  your  mind.  Through 
the  cooperation  of  the  War  Industries  Board,  War  Trade 
Board,  and  the  A.E.F. ,  Spain  has  agreed  to  grant  export  per- 
mits for  50,000  animals  in  return  for  the  release  of  20,000  tons 
of  sulphate  of  ammonia  from  the  United  States  to  Spain. 
Ordinarily  this  arrangement  would  be  consummated  through 
the  usual  diplomatic  agencies  of  the  State  Department.  My 
fear  of  delay  in  this  connection  is  so  great  that  I  asked  the 
General  to  cable  the  War  Department  to  make  the  request 
of  the  State  Department  that  George  McFadden,  European 
representative  of  the  War  Trade  Board,  which  is  a  branch  of 
the  State  Department,  be  sent  to  Spain  to  personally  consum- 
mate the  arrangement  with  that  Government.  General  Per- 
shing has  sent  this  cable.  If,  as  is  hoped,  the  State  Department 
replies  by  commissioning  McFadden  with  this  work,  I  shall 
give  him  temporarily  the  same  relation  to  the  purchase  of 
animals  in  Spain  as  is  held  by  my  coordinating  agent  already 
located  there  —  in  other  words,  order  the  officers  now  in  Spain 
for  the  purchase  of  animals  to  coordinate  their  purchases  and 
accept  the  advice  of  McFadden  as  a  business  man  in  connec- 
tion therewith.  In  McFadden  we  shall  get  well-directed 
energy  backed  by  sufficient  steam,  as  his  success  in  negotiating 
the  Swiss  commercial  treaty  and  our  many  experiences  with 
him  indicate.  As  soon  as  advice  is  received  from  the  State 
Department  in  connection  with  this  matter  I  shall  notify  you. 
5.  In  connection  with  the  horse  situation  in  France  we  have 
been  making,  as  you  know,  every  possible  effort  to  Induce 
the  French  to  requisition  at  least  another  25,000  animals. 
For  the  purpose  of  Inducing  them  to  do  this  and  as  a  possible 
explanation  for  the  drastic  action  we  ask,  which  would  be 
acceptable  to  the  French  public.  General  Pershing  has  made 
to  Tardleu  personally  the  same  proposition  that  he  made  to 


GENERAL  JOHN  J.  PERSHING  WITH  COLONEL  JAMES  L.  COLLINS  AND 

COLONEL  CARL  BOYD 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  205 

Halg  in  connection  with  England,  to  wit,  that  he  would  replace 
by  April  i  horse  for  horse  the  number  of  animals  furnished 
him  during  the  next  thirty  to  sixty  days.  General  Pershing 
stated  this  to  Tardieu  in  my  presence  at  his  Field  Headquar- 
ters during  my  visit  there  about  ten  days  ago.  A  misunder- 
standing seems  to  have  arisen  by  which  the  French  consider 
the  proposition  to  furnish  a  horse  in  the  spring  for  a  horse 
now  as  an  idea  on  the  General's  part  that  the  horses  could  be 
obtained  by  the  use  of  this  promise  to  the  public  without 
recourse  to  requisition.  As  this  was  never  in  his  mind  I  can- 
not conceive  how  such  an  impression  could  be  had.  How- 
ever, there  was  time  to  correct  it,  and  I  have  had  it  up  with 
Ganne  who  transmitted  it  to  Clemenceau  to-day.  I  do  not 
think  the  horses  can  be  obtained  in  France  without  govern- 
mental requisition. 

6.  At  his  Headquarters  yesterday  morning  General  Per- 
shing stated  that  to-day  he  would  speak  to  Clemenceau  on 
this  subject  of  requisition.  He  has  seen  Clemenceau  this 
morning,  but  I  have  not  seen  him  since  the  interview. 

7.  Before  leaving  for  conference  with  General  Pershing  at 
the  front  had  conference  with  General  Moseley  in  my  office 
relative  to  certain  alleged  French  criticisms  of  our  rear,  which 
were  entirely  unfounded  but  needed  attention.  General 
Moseley  went  to  Foch's  Headquarters  and  reported  that  this 
criticism  did  not  emanate  from  that  section;  that  Colonel 
Payot  was  satisfied  that  the  situation  is  now  and  has  been  for 
weeks  running  very  smoothly.  On  my  visit  to  the  line  yes- 
terday I  found  this  to  be  the  fact.  General  Pershing  is  fight- 
ing a  battle  which  is  a  magnified  Wilderness  Campaign,  over 
country  presenting  inconceivable  difficulties  of  topography 
and  with  the  heaviest  concentration  of  German  troops  of  the 
entire  Allied  line,  which  have  been  rushed  there  to  confront 
him.  He  is  attacking  continuously  and  is  advancing  his  lines. 
By  keeping  this  large  force  of  Germans  engaged  on  his  front 
he  has  rendered  possible  the  very  considerable  advances  which 
are  being  made  by  the  English  and  French  to  his  west.   The 


206         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

reason  that  his  advance  is  slow  is,  as  you  know,  because  of  the 
almost  inconceivable  difficulties  under  which  it  proceeds  and 
the  heavy  fighting  at  the  front.  That  anybody  should  refer 
to  it  as  slow  because  of  a  lack  of  organization  of  the  rear  is  so 
manifestly  unjust  that  it  must  have  proceeded  from  entire 
misinformation  or  from  the  ulterior  purpose  so  long  persisted 
in  to  compel  the  dissipation  of  the  American  army  as  a  unit, 
against  which  General  Pershing  has  thus  far  so  successfully 
contended.  As  far  as  I  can  learn,  however,  these  criticisms 
are  simply  a  recrudescence  of  those  made  when,  because  of 
a  congestion  of  transport  in  the  rear  during  a  part  of  two 
days,  due  largely  to  the  condition  of  the  roads,  the  statement 
was  made  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  First  Field  Army  to 
attack.  This  criticism  vanished  when  on  October  5  the  First 
Field  Army  did  attack  and  has  been  attacking  and  advancing 
ever  since.  While  this  matter  has  been  the  subject  of  our 
personal  consultation  this  morning,  I  think  it  well  to  preserve 
this  contemporaneous  record  of  the  facts.  As  you  and  I  well 
understand,  in  no  other  matter  has  the  strength  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief been  more  heavily  taxed  than  in  his  success- 
ful effort  to  preserve  the  integrity  of  the  American  army  as  a 
unit,  which  was  not  only  essential  to  its  highest  military  effec- 
tiveness as  events  have  proved,  but  was  a  duty  which  he  owed 
to  the  President  and  to  the  American  nation.  It  seems  to  have 
been  forgotten  by  some  that  at  a  critical  time  in  March  and 
April,  when  it  was  necessary  to  stiffen  the  Allied  line  of 
defense.  General  Pershing  gave  practically  all  of  his  strength 
to  the  Allies,  and  in  his  perception  of  the  necessity  for  chang- 
ing control  of  the  rear  in  case  his  troops  were  necessarily  dis- 
sipated in  other  armies  went  so  far  as  to  offer  for  the  common 
benefit  his  personal  command  of  the  rear  of  his  troops  as  well 
as  his  control  of  the  front.  Events  having  shown  that  all 
Allied  troops  including  our  own  fight  best  in  their  separate 
armies  and  as  far  as  possible  under  their  own  officers,  and  the 
policy  of  army  segregation  having  been  fully  and  absolutely 
agreed  upon  by  all  the  Allies,  it  is  inconceivable  to  me  that 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  207 

the  criticism  of  a  lack  of  amenability  on  the  part  of  General 
Pershing  emanates  from  any  responsible  source.  As  you  know, 
within  the  last  few  days  he  has  reenforced  the  Belgian  front 
by  two  divisions  and  now  has  six  divisions  amalgamated  with 
the  French  and  English  armies. 

8.  Conference  with  members  of  office  Staff  in  connection 
with  details  of  administration,  including  consideration  of 
reports  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cutcheon  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Jay  on  their  visit  to  England. 

9.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jay  and  General 
Madden  in  connection  with  certain  purchases  by  category  of 
the  Quartermaster  Department  in  Switzerland.  This  matter 
was  adjusted. 

10.  Conference  with  McFadden,  of  War  Trade  Board, 
relative  to  Spanish  animal  situation  along  the  line  of  what  I 
have  above  embodied  in  this  report. 

11.  Telephonic  conference  with  General  Eltinge,  relative 
to  form  of  cable  to  be  sent  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  to 
the  War  Department  in  connection  with  Spanish  matter. 

12.  Conference  with  General  Moseley  as  to  matters  of 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  and  coordination  in  the  rear 
of  the  army  in  the  Zone  of  the  Advance. 

13.  Conference  with  Colonel  Maud,  British  army,  who  will 
be  placed  at  the  head  of  the  new  central  purchasing  agency 
of  the  B.E.F.  in  France,  as  to  methods  of  cooperation  with  my 
own  ofhce. 

14.  Various  routine  duties  of  office. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 

[Enclosure] 

General  Headquarters 
British  Armies  in  France 
20th  October,  19 18 

Dear  General: 

I  SEND  you  two  copies  of  the  scheme  together  with  two  maps, 

and  I  think  you  would  probably  like  to  keep  one  yourself  and 


2o8        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

send  the  other  to  General  Pershing.  After  I  had  drafted  this, 
Mr.  Dwight  Morrow  came  in  and  he  went  through  it  with 
me  and  helped  me  with  one  or  two  suggestions.  I  hope  it  will 
be  of  some  use  and  will  meet  with  your  approval. 

Since  you  left  I  have  been  in  constant  touch  with  Payot, 
who  is  most  anxious  to  discuss  the  use  of  the  ports  with  me 
now  and  wanted  me  to  go  to  his  H.Q.  on  Monday  or  Tuesday, 
This  was  impossible  as  the  Q.M.G.  is  away,  but  he  says  the 
matter  is  so  urgent  that  he  is  coming  up  here  on  Monday  with 
seven  other  officers  to  discuss  the  use  of  Dunkirk  and  the 
Belgian  ports.  I  rather  gather,  from  a  conversation  on  the 
'phone,  that  his  suggestion  is  that  we  should  transfer  to  Dun- 
kirk and  the  Belgian  ports.  He  does  not  mention  the  Amer- 
ican Forces,  and  I  am  going  to  listen  ver>'  carefully  to  every- 
thing he  says,  give  no  decision,  and  will  talk  the  matter  over 
with  you  on  the  23d  or  24th. 

If  you  are  in  Paris  on  the  23d,  I  shall  try  and  come  to  your 
office  and  have  a  minute  with  you  before  I  go  on  to  Coubert. 

Yours  very  sincerely 

R.  Ford,  M.G. 
General  Charles  G.  Dawes 
Engineers,  National  Army 
Elysee  Palace  Hotel 
Champs  Elysees 
Paris 

In  view  of  the  new  conditions  arising  from  the  evacuation  of 
the  Belgian  coast,  thereby  rendering  the  important  port  of 
Dunkirk  immediately  available,  and  the  port  of  Ostend  per- 
haps ultimately  available,  some  review  of  the  allotment  of  the 
present  port  facilities  of  France  would  seem  justified,  espe- 
cially with  a  view  of  determining  the  greatest  economy  of 
Allied  resources  in  the  use  of  the  ports  and  the  railway  fa- 
cilities therefrom. 

The  situation  possessed  two  main  aspects,  viz. : 

(i)  The  relative  position  of  the  Allied  armies  remaining 
generally  as  at  present. 

(2)  The  position  of  the  Allied  armies  undergoing  some  al- 
teration. 

With  regard  to  (i):  A  map  of  France  showing  a  central 
place  in  the  fronts  held  by  the  British  and  American  armies, 
with  the  approximate  direct  mileage  from  the  ports  feeding 
these  two  allies.   From  this  map  it  will  be  seen  that  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  209 

length  of  the  lead  from  base  ports  to  army  areas  in  the 
case  of  the  American  armies  is  considerably  in  excess  of  the 
British. 

The  number  of  freight-cars  now  in  France  to  meet  the  needs 
of  the  Allies  is  not  adequate  for  all  needs,  and  although  the 
port  accommodation  allotted  to  the  American  Expeditionary 
Force  may  be  able  to  cope  with  the  maximum  tonnage  which 
it  is  anticipated  will  be  imported  into  France,  it  is  obvious 
that  unless  the  freight-car  situation  is  very  considerably  im- 
proved, it  will  be  impracticable  to  clear  away  from  the  ports 
to  inland  depots  the  tonnage  imported. 

The  situation  can  hence  best  be  relieved  by  a  reduction  in 
long  haul  of  the  American  stocks. 

In  this  connection  it  must  be  remembered  that  there  are 
only  two  deep-water  ports  in  the  Northern  part  of  France, 
namely:  Le  Havre  and  Dunkirk. 

That  the  allocation  of  accommodation  at  either  of  these 
two  ports  would  result  in  saving  in  railway  lead  is  shown 
clearly  by  the  following  comparison  of  direct  mileage: 

Marseilles  to  St.  Mihiel  390  miles 

Havre  to  St.  Mihiel  250     " 

140  miles  saved,  counting  double 
on  the  turn-round 
Bordeaux  to  St.  Mihiel  400 

Havre  to  St.  Mihiel  250        do        do 

150 
Marseilles  to  St.  Mihiel  390  miles 

Dunkirk  to  St.  Mihiel  205_     " 

185  miles  saved,  counting  double 
on  the  turn-round 
Bordeaux  to  St.  Mihiel  400 

Dunkirk  to  St.  Mihiel  205 

195        do        do 

Therefore,  if  Havre  and  Dunkirk  were  used  the  turn-round  of 
wagons  would  be  reduced  by  several  days. 

In  considering  the  most  suitable  allotment  of  the  ports,  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  British  Ministry  of  Shipping 
and  the  Admiralty  are  connected  with  the  proposition,  and 
from  a  British  standpoint  Havre  is  a  better  port  from  South- 
ampton than  is  Dunkirk. 


210        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Assuming  that  extra  accommodation  is  granted  at  Havre  to 
the  Americans,  this  would  mean  that  some  of  the  berths  now 
occupied  at  Havre  by  the  French  and  British  must  be  given 
up,  and  the  tonnage  dealt  with  by  these  two  allies  must  be 
dealt  with  elsewhere.  It  must,  however,  be  remembered  that 
the  British  at  Havre  and  Rouen  have  large  and  almost  indis- 
pensable installations  such  as  cold  storage,  bulk  petrol  stor- 
age, petrol  canning  factories,  ordnance  stores,  gun  park,  as 
well  as  hospitals,  veterinary  hospitals,  and  remount  depots, 
and  the  removal  of  any  or  all  of  these  installations  is  not  a 
matter  which  can  be  carried  out  at  once.  A  transfer  of  British 
tonnage  to  Dunkirk  hence  implies  dislocation  of  existing  ar- 
rangements and  erection  of  fresh  installations. 

Assuming  again  that  Havre  and  Rouen  remain  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  British,  as  at  present,  and  that  extra  accommoda- 
tion is  given  to  the  Americans  at  Dunkirk,  this  will  imply 
considerable  development  of  the  land  in  or  near  the  docks  at 
Dunkirk,  where  at  present  there  is  no  regulating  station  of 
any  size,  and  no  depots  or  other  facilities  exist,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  barge  wharf  built  by  the  British  on  the  canal  at 
Coudekerque  with  a  view  of  the  establishment  in  that  neigh- 
borhood of  large  installations  such  as  a  supply  and  ordnance 
depots. 

In  Dunkirk,  however,  there  exist  at  the  present  time  a  cold 
storage  capable  of  holding  2800  tons  and  very  considerable 
petrol  storage  accommodation  amounting  to  about  20,000 
tons.  Both  of  these  belong  to  French  companies,  and  the  cold 
storage  is  at  present  used  by  the  French,  but  most  of  the 
petrol  bulk  storage  is  available.  To  complete  the  regulating 
station  and  to  erect  the  necessary  warehouses  for  a  supply 
and  an  ordnance  dep6t  would  be  a  matter  of  some  months' 
construction,  and  therefore  any  adjustment  which  is  to  be 
made  should  be  taken  in  hand  at  once  so  that  the  bases  may 
be  in  thorough  working  order  by  next  spring. 

Dunkirk  as  a  port  during  the  last  few  weeks  has  become 
comparatively  safe,  in  that  it  is  now  no  longer  assailable  by 
land  guns  nor  from  attack  by  sea  as  heretofore.  Moreov^er, 
owing  to  the  Allied  left  flank  practically  resting  on  Holland, 
it  would  appear  that  unless  the  neutrality  of  that  country  is 
violated,  an  attack  from  the  air  presents  difificulty:  in  fact 
Dunkirk  is  as  safe  a  port  as  are  Calais  and  Boulogne. 
I  Dunkirk  in  itself  is  extremely  well  situated  from  an  inland 
water  transport  point  of  view,  thus  enabling  shipping  to  be 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  211 

dealt  with  very  much  more  expeditiously  than  at  such  a  port 
as  Boulogne. 

Dunkirk  as  a  port  is  peculiarly  well  fitted  for  the  importa- 
tion of  coal,  and  as  the  bulk  of  the  coal  for  France,  and  practi- 
cally the  whole  of  the  coal  for  the  B.E.F.  and  A.E.F.  comes 
from  the  United  Kingdom,  it  would  appear  an  economy  in 
shipping  and  time  if  Dunkirk  was  very  largely  exploited  as  a 
port  for  the  landing  of  coal. 

As  regards  aspect  No.  2 : 

It  is  a  matter  for  consideration  whether,  considering  the 
very  large  tonnage  which  will  have  to  be  handled  in  the  spring 
of  next  }ear  to  maintain  the  American  Forces  (and  more 
especially  the  very  large  coal  requirements  for  the  proposed 
long  rail  haul  under  the  present  plan  of  putting  4,000,000 
men  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Western  Front),  and  with  a 
view  of  the  difificulty  in  providing  an  adequate  number  of 
trucks,  whether  part  of  the  American  Forces  should  not  be 
based  on  Dunkirk  or  on  Havre  and  Rouen. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  to  afford  relief  from  congestion  of 
existing  ports,  to  simplify  supply  and  to  economize  railway 
wagon  stock,  the  simplest  solution  would  be  to  base  an 
American  Force  on  Dunkirk.  This  in  turn  would  imply  the 
employment  of  an  American  army  in  the  Northern  Zone  of 
operations,  viz.:  Belgium. 

Dunkirk  is  capable  of  dealing  with  157,500  tons  (2240 
pounds)  per  week,  and  Les  Forts  presents  an  excellent  site  for 
warehouses  and  a  d6p6t. 

Some  of  the  advantages  that  would  accrue  from  an 
American  Force  being  based  on  Dunkirk  are  the  follow- 
ing: 

(a)  The  proximity  of  the  port  to  the  British  Isles  as  affect- 
ing the  import  of  coal. 

(b)  It  is  a  deep-sea  port  where  trans-Atlantic  shipping  can 
be  expeditiously  dealt  with.  A  Channel  ferry  terminus 
has  been  constructed  by  the  British. 

(c)  The  shorter  lead  to  the  front  insures  a  quick  and  eco- 
nomical turn-round  of  trucks. 

Immediate  action  would  be  necessary  to  construct  the 
necessary  facilities  in  time  to  have  everything  in  readiness  by 
next  March,  irrespective  of  whether  the  port  should  be  ex- 
ploited by  the  Americans  or  the  British. 


212         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

October  24,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  October  23 
and  24: 

1.  Spent  most  of  day,  October  23,  on  horse  situation  in 
conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  preparation  of 
telegrams,  etc.  At  my  request  General  Pershing  made  a 
written  request  on  United  States  Senator  Hollis,  who  repre- 
sents the  Treasury  Department  here  and  who  has  recently 
conducted  the  successful  negotiation  of  a  loan  of  the  United 
States  from  Spain,  to  go  to  Spain  in  an  effort  to  expedite  the 
animal  situation  and  the  arrangements  for  export  permits 
with  the  Spanish  Government.  Senator  Hollis  leaves  to- 
night. He  goes  representing  the  A.E.F.  I  did  this  in  order 
that  any  delay  which  we  may  encounter  in  the  matter  of  our 
request  to  have  McFadden  sent  by  the  State  Department  will 
not  Interfere  with  the  maximum  continuing  effort  in  this 
situation. 

2.  Conference  with  Major-General  Ford  relative  to  the 
Havre  and  Dunkirk  port  proposition,  a  full  memorandum 
concerning  which  I  gave  to  you.  An  early  consideration  of 
this  subject  on  your  part  is  hoped  for  by  General  Ford,  in 
order  that  he  may  have  your  views  in  mind  while  he  negotiates 
with  the  French.  Colonel  Payot  and  his  Staff  visited  British 
General  Headquarters  to  see  General  Ford  in  this  connection. 
At  this  conference  with  General  Ford  we  went  over  the  pur- 
chase situation  as  well  as  the  horse  situation. 

3.  Received  telephone  from  General  Travers-Clarke  that 
as  a  result  of  his  visit  to  England  1000  horses  are  on  their  way 
to  us,  2000  will  be  sent  within  the  next  few  days,  and  prepara- 
tions are  being  made  to  send  2000  additional,  making  5000  in 
all  within  a  short  time.  He  also  stated  that  every  effort  will 
be  made  to  send  us  as  many  more  in  addition  as  possible. 
He  further  stated  that  he  had  300  new  motor  lorries  which  he 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  213 

would  give  us,  for  which  we  must  send  drivers  if  he  wires  that 
it  is  necessary. 

4.  Conference  with  Mr,  Edward  R.  Stettinius  relative  to  a 
cablegram  received  from  General  March,  copy  of  which, 
together  with  copy  of  my  reply  thereto,  I  am  sending  to  you. 
It  is  a  source  of  satisfaction  to  the  General  Purchasing  Agent 
that  he  is  able  to  make  the  statement  at  this  time  that  the 
machinery  which  was  established  last  January  and  which 
has  been  in  continuous  operation  ever  since,  has  given  the 
A.E.F.  the  protection  of  the  vise  of  the  French  Government  in 
all  its  purchases.  Particular  attention  is  called  to  the  cable 
from  General  March  and  my  letter  to  Mr.  Edward  R.  Stet- 
tinius, special  representative  of  the  War  Department,  in  con- 
nection therewith.  Mr.  Stettinius,  of  course,  is  answering 
General  March's  cable  direct.  Whatever  our  difficulties  have 
been  from  the  beginning  in  this  abnormal  situation  in  France, 
the  various  inquiries  which  we  are  now  receiving  from  Amer- 
ica as  to  our  methods  are  developing  that  we  have  endeav^ored 
constantly  to  throw  around  our  operations  the  safeguards 
pertaining  to  proper  business  organization. 

5.  Conference  with  General  Madden,  representing  General 
Rogers,  in  connection  with  our  efforts  to  secure  animals  in 
Spain. 

6.  Conference  with  M.  Ganne  relative  to  French  criticism, 
which  has  been  the  subject  of  various  conversations  between 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  yourself,  and  myself,  and  also  on 
the  subject  of  the  supply  of  horses  for  the  A.E.F. 

7.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hodges  relative 
to  matters  to  be  considered  at  meeting  of  the  Militar>'  Board 
of  Allied  Supply  at  Coubert,  which  I  attended  this  afternoon 
at  Coubert. 

8.  Second  conference  with  M.  Ganne,  who  has  in  the  mean- 
time visited  M.  Clemenceau.  M.  Clemenceau  sent  the  letter 
to  General  Pershing  prepared  by  M.  Ganne,  according  to 
which  we  may  not  expect  any  immediate  addition  to  our 
horse  supply  from  the  French.  I  understand  from  M.  Ganne 


214        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

that  the  hope  is  expressed  that  some  time  later,  based  upon 
General  Pershing's  promise  of  replacement  horse  for  horse,  a 
requisition  may  be  made.  The  outcome  was  about  what  the 
General  expected,  as  expressed  to  you  and  myself  the  other 
night  when  we  were  with  him. 

9.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  I 
extended  the  invitation  in  your  name  to  Colonel  Payot  to 
visit  our  bases.  I  spread  this  upon  the  minutes  of  the  meet- 
ing. Colonel  Payot  expressed  his  great  appreciation  of  this 
action  on  your  part.  Charles  G.  Dawes 

Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 

October  26,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  October  25,  26: 

1.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  relative 
to  Spanish  animal  situation. 

2.  Interviewed  by  telephone  General  Travers-Clarke, 
British  Quartermaster-General,  relative  to  horses  from 
England  for  the  A.E.F.  In  his  telephone  yesterday  General 
Travers-Clarke  told  me  we  should  receive  9000.  To-day  he 
states  that  they  expect  to  furnish  us  13,000.  As  the  English 
figure  they  will  not  be  able  to  ship  these  horses  faster  than 
2000  per  week,  I  have  asked  Mr.  Dwight  Morrow,  Allied 
Alaritime  Transport  Council,  who  is  now  in  London,  to  make 
efforts  to  increase  the  available  shipping  for  these  horses  so 
as  to  increase  the  rate  of  flow. 

3.  Conference  with  Mr.  Stettinius  relative  to  purchase  ar- 
rangements of  A.E.F.  in  Europe.  His  reply  to  the  War 
Department  referred  to  in  my  former  report  of  activities  you 
will  find  in  copies  of  his  cables  sent  you  by  him  direct. 

4.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hodges,  of  StafiF 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  on  matters  of  the  Board. 

5.  Conference  with  the  purchasing  agent  for  Great  Britain 
relative  to  English  Branch  of  the  General  Purchasing  Board. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  215 

6.  Conference  with  M.  Libouton,  representing  the  Belgian 
Minister  of  Transportation.  Secured  for  him  cession  from  the 
English  army  of  ten  automobile  camions  for  immeliate  use  of 
the  Belgians.  In  this  connection  received  letter  from  Paul 
Segers,  Belgian  Minister  of  Transportation,  ceding  us  2CX) 
passenger  cars  for  which  our  Transportation  Department  has 
made  urgent  request.  This  was  in  response  to  my  request 
made  some  time  ago.  Have  communicated  this  information 
to  Transportation  Department. 

7.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  about 
his  proposed  trip  to  Spain.  State  Department  has  authorized 
him,  in  accordance  with  General  Pershing's  request,  to  under- 
take negotiations.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  pending  receipt  of 
this  authority  we  have  sent  United  States  Senator  Hollis  to 
Spain,  McFadden  is  delaying  his  departure  pending  further 
consideration  of  its  wisdom.  Wired  General  Rogers  asking  him 
to  instruct  Corbusier,  of  his  Department,  to  act  in  accordance 
with  any  policy  outlined  by  Hollis. 

8.  Conference  with  Captain  Sanborn,  purchasing  agent  for 
Spain,  who  leaves  for  there  to-night  in  connection  with 
method  to  be  pursued  for  most  expeditious  methods  of  trans- 
portation of  animals  from  Spain. 

9.  State  Department  assures  McFadden,  in  answer  to  his 
recommendation,  that  the  embargo  power  of  the  United 
States  will  be  used  to  its  utmost  to  force  immediate  granting 
of  Spanish  export  permits.  We  are  endeavoring  to  lea\e 
nothing  undone  in  the  matter  of  expediting  the  animal  supply. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Ejigineers,  N.A. 

October  28,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  October  2^,  28: 
I.  As  per  your  instructions  had  several  conferences  in  re- 
gard to  French  storage  of  picric  acid  near  our  ammunition 


2i6    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

warehouses.   This  matter  has  been  satisfactorily  arranged  as 
per  my  telegram  sent  you  this  afternoon. 

2.  Conference  with  French  as  to  rolling  kitchens  for  the 
front,  concerning  which  I  wired  Moseley. 

3.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  relative 
to  the  animal  situation  in  Spain. 

4.  Had  number  of  conferences,  in  accordance  with  your 
instructions,  relative  to  French  shipment  of  aeroplanes  to 
Vladivostok.  The  situation  in  this  matter  has  been  outlined 
to  you  in  my  various  telegrams  of  yesterday  and  to-day. 

5.  Conference  with  representative  of  Motor  Transport 
Corps  relative  to  cession  of  camions  promised  us  by  the 
British  army,  in  connection  with  delivery,  payment,  etc. 

6.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  in  his  bed- 
room at  his  residence.  Rue  de  Varenne,  where  he  is  suffering 
from  a  slight  attack  of  influenza.  He  had  his  military  con- 
ference on  Thursday  with  Foch,  Haig,  and  Petain,  at  which 
he  discussed  the  form  of  military  conditions  of  a  possible  ar- 
mistice. He  is  at  present  preparing  statement  of  his  attitude 
to  be  taken  before  the  Versailles  meeting  on  Wednesday.  I 
think  the  General's  health  will  permit  him  to  be  out  of  doors 
again  to-morrow. 

7.  Have  written  General  Moseley  suggesting  that  subject 
of  automatic  shipments  to  railheads  from  S.O.S.  have  con- 
sideration. In  this  connection  I  attach  hereto  copy  of  my 
letter  to  General  Moseley  and  copy  of  his  letter  for  your  con- 
fidential consideration.  I  understand  that  you  are  having  a 
conference  with  him  at  this  time.  Anything  that  I  say  about 
G-4  must  not  be  considered  as  criticism,  for  I  have  the 
highest  regard  for  its  management  and  only  desire  to  be  help- 
ful in  any  way  that  I  can.  In  connection  with  the  matter  of 
hay,  by  an  oversight  I  did  not  send  my  suggestions  to  Moseley 
direct  as  I  should  have  done,  and,  as  per  Moseley 's  letter 
attached,  while  it  apparently  did  not  annoy  him,  it  seems  to 
have  met  with  some  slight  resentment  on  the  part  of  some 
members  of  the  General  Stafif.  My  suggestion  was  that  the 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  EDWARD  B.  GUSHING 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  217 

maximum  amount  of  hay  to  be  shipped  from  the  bases  should 
always  be  determined  by  the  maximum  amount  of  hay  which 
it  is  possible  to  transport  from  the  railheads  to  the  animals 
in  the  field. 

8.  Various  other  matters  not  connected  with  policy  which 
escape  my  recollection. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Efigineers,  N.A. 

[Enclosures] 

October  28,  1918 

Brig.-Gen.  George  Van  Horn  Moseley 

Asst.  Chief  of  Staff,  G-4 
General  Headquarters 

My  dear  Moseley: 

I  have  your  letter  of  the  26th,  which  I  greatly  appreciate. 
This  morning  General  Pershing,  who  is  a  little  under  the 
weather,  told  me  of  the  high  terms  in  which  Foch  spoke  of 
the  American  army  and  its  organization  at  the  Military  Con- 
ference which  was  held  at  his  Headquarters  last  Thursday 
on  the  matter  of  considering  the  military  form  of  a  possible 
armistice. 

There  has  been  nothing  more  important,  not  only  to  the 
success,  but  the  reputation  of  the  A.E.F.,  than  the  fine  way 
in  which  you  have  handled  your  important  work.  It  occurs 
to  me  to  suggest  something  here,  and  before  I  do  it  I  will  state 
where  I  got  the  idea.  Colonel  Sewell,  who  visited  me  the 
other  day,  stated  that  at  one  time,  owing  to  lack  of  cars,  they 
were  much  behind  in  the  shipment  of  automatic  supplies  to 
the  front,  and  that  while  they  expected  to  hear  a  great  pro- 
test on  account  of  it  —  although  it  was  unavoidable  —  nothing 
occurred.  While  nothing  occurred  probably  because  you  are 
running  with  proper  reserves  in  absolutely  necessary  supplies 
at  the  railheads,  I  am  wondering  whether  you  are  checking  up 
the  automatic  supply  orders  upon  the  Services  of  Supply  in 
order  to  determine  whether  or  not  changes  in  the  position  of 
troops  or  other  rapid  changes  at  the  front  may  not  suggest 
alterations  from  time  to  time  or  in  emergency  of  automatic 
supply  orders.  In  other  words,  have  you  at  the  railheads  and 
in  touch  with  the  necessities  of  the  troops  some  one  who  if 
necessary  can  alter  the  automatic  supply  scheme  if  it  is  re- 


2i8        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

suiting  in  transportation  of  a  surplus  where  only  necessities 
should  be  provided  for?  All  this  is  subjective.  I  know  noth- 
ing of  specific  conditions  and  know  that  the  general  situation 
is  satisfactory. 

As  you  may  know,  the  General  is  putting  considerable 
responsibility  upon  me  in  connection  with  the  gathering 
of  horses,  camions,  and  everything  else  that  will  move  on 
legs  or  wheels  and  which  can  be  had  in  Europe.  I  just  secured 
a  promise  from  the  English  of  13,000  horses  and  290  camions. 
In  considering  the  means  of  increasing  our  artillery  and  other 
transport  and  in  encountering  great  difficulties  in  doing  it, 
my  mind  naturally  turns  once  in  a  while  to  the  thought  of 
possible  economy  in  the  use  of  such  transportation  that  we 
have. 

Your  friend 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

General  Headquarters 
American  Expeditionary  Forces 

Sec.  4.  G.S.,  26  October,  1918 

My  dear  General: 

I  AM  just  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  25th  inst.,  and  I  ap- 
preciate it  very  much.  This  section  of  mine  has  grown  so  that 
many  papers  get  by  without  m}^  being  able  to  go  over  them 
carefully,  and  I  am  sorry  that  the  paper  to  which  you  refer 
slipped  by. 

Personally  I  am  very  glad  always  to  have  suggestions  come 
in,  for  I  realize  that  we  need  all  the  help  we  can  get.  Your 
telegram  brought  up  the  question  of  forage  at  railheads  and  I 
have  sent  Major  Halsey,  of  the  Q.M.  Department,  to  inspect 
railheads  and  see  that  the  forage  placed  at  abandoned  rail- 
heads is  properly  protected  and  that  arrangements  are  made 
to  place  it  promptly  where  it  can  be  used. 

In  making  arrangements  for  the  recent  operations  we 
placed  quite  a  quantity  of  forage  at  certain  places  where  the 
army  could  draw  upon  it  directly;  however,  the  First  Army 
was  shifted  several  times  to  the  left  and  some  of  these  stocks 
have  not  yet  been  used  up.  The  machine  that  I  have  is  so 
large  that  it  is  taking  more  and  more  effort  to  keep  in  close 
touch  with  all  parts  of  it,  so  I  am  always  glad  to  have  sug- 
gestions pointing  out  something  I  may  have  overlooked. 

Late  last  night  a  message  came  stating  that  the  conference 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  219 

at  Marshal  Foch's  Headquarters  was  postponed  several  days, 
so  I  am  not  leaving  for  Paris  to-night,  but  will  see  you  in  a  few 
days.  I  have  just  finished  proof-reading  our  new  order  on 
Staff  arrangements,  supply,  transportation,  etc.,  and  we  hope 
to  have  it  in  print  in  a  few  days.  I  believe  it  gathers  up  many 
loose  ends  and  gives  concrete  form  to  our  organization. 

Again  let  me  thank  you  for  your  note,  and  as  far  as  I  am 
concerned  your  action  was  perfectly  proper,  but  I  find  in  my 
large  family  here  and  there  people  who  do  not  take  suggestions 
very  kindly.  You  know  there  are  many  like  this  everywhere. 
As  far  as  I  am  concerned,  personally,  I  could  not  run  my 
machine  if  it  were  not  for  the  valuable  suggestions  and  assist- 
ance I  receive  from  my  good  friends. 

Very  sincerely  yours 

MOSELEY 
Brig. -Gen.  Charles  G.  Dawes 
General  Purchasing  Agent 

American  Expeditionary  Forces 
Paris,  France 

October  30,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  October  29 

and  30: 

1.  Conference  relative  to  horse-drawn  rolling  kitchens 
from  the  French  for  use  at  the  front,  concerning  which  I 
wired  General  Moseley. 

2.  Communication  with  British  G.H.Q.  relative  to  cession 
of  290  camions  from  the  British  army  to  the  A.E.F. 

3.  Conference  with  Major-General  Patrick  relative  to 
aviation  matters,  including  matter  of  shipment  by  French 
Government  of  aeroplanes  to  Siberia,  which  you  referred  to 
me. 

4.  Conference  with  Mr.  Stettinius  relative  to  aeroplane 
shipment  to  Russia,  concerning  which  I  wired  you  in  full. 

5.  Conference  with  Colonel  Payot,  of  French  army,  at  his 
Field  Headquarters,  relative  to  approaching  meeting  of 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.    Had  conference  with  the 


220    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Commander-in-Chief  the  night  before  at  his  house  in  con- 
nection with  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply.  Feeling  of  the 
Commander-in-Chief  and  myself,  in  which  Colonel  Payot 
agrees,  is  that  the  authority  existing  by  international  agree- 
ment in  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply,  in  addition  to 
its  current  use  in  operations,  should  be  used  at  this  time  to 
gather  statistics  useful  in  case  of  demobilization  of  the  armies 
and  information  as  to  existing  munitions,  transportation,  and 
other  field  and  rear  supplies,  which  information  cannot  be  as 
well  collected  through  other  agencies.  It  is  in  connection  with 
the  above  that  I  have  wired  you  to-day  expressing  the  hope 
that  you  will  accompany  me  to  Headquarters  of  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply  to-morrow.  I  desire  to  have  a  con- 
sultation with  you  soon  in  order  to  be  informed  as  to  the  policy 
which-  you  desire  to  have  carried  out  in  this  connection. 

6.  Communications  with  General  Headquarters  relative 
to  shipment  of  horses  from  England.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Williams,  Remount  Servace,  will  return  to-morrow. 

7.  Conference  with  representatives  of  Colonel  Payot  in 
connection  with  the  pooling  of  gasoline  supply  between  the 
French,  British,  and  American  armies.  The  French  General 
Commissioner  for  Oils  and  Fuel  will  meet  me  at  Coubert  to- 
morrow. Lieutenant-Colonel  Dudley,  of  our  Oil  and  Gas 
Service,  will  accompany  me. 

8.  Conference  with  Major-General  Rogers,  Lieutenant- 
General  Thiemann,  Mission  du  Ministere  de  I'lntendance 
Beige,  and  Mr.  Theodore  Kreglinger,  Directeur-General  au 
Ministere  de  I'lntendance,  relative  to  assisting  the  Belgians 
with  20,000,000  rations.  The  French  Government  is  prepar- 
ing to  assist.  I  took  responsibility  of  diverting  ten  of  the  three 
hundred  camions,  which  I  secured  as  a  cession  from  the  British 
army,  to  the  Belgian  army  for  immediate  transportation  of 
food  to  civilians  in  the  liberated  territory.  The  Belgian 
Government  is  paying  the  English  Government  direct  for 
these  camions  so  that  it  involves  no  inter-army  accounting. 

9.  Conference  with  General  Rogers  in  connection  with  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  221 

animal  supply  from  Spain.  He  has  wired  at  my  suggestion 
such  purchasing  officers  of  the  Quartermaster  Department 
in  Spain  to  report  to  Senator  Hollis  for  instructions  as  to 
policy  to  be  pursued.  Consultation  also  held  relative  to  the 
request  of  the  Quartermaster-General,  in  which  the  General 
Purchasing  Agent  joined,  that  a  fund  of  $3,000,000  be  estab- 
lished for  the  payment  of  necessary  expenses  beyond  ordinary 
travel  rate  to  quartermasters  and  purchasing  officers  in  neutral 
and  Allied  countries. 

10.  Conference  with  Mr.  Edward  R.  Stettinius  relative  to 
purchase  policy  of  the  A.E.F.  in  connection  with  possible 
peace.  Received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Oscar  T.  Crosby,  Special 
U.S.  Commissioner  of  Finance  in  Europe,  asking  for  a  state- 
ment of  the  purchase  policy  of  the  A.E.F.  in  this  connection. 
A  copy  of  Mr.  Crosby's  letter,  with  copy  of  my  answer  at- 
tached, was  sent  you.  I  also  wired  you  in  this  connection 
stating  that  an  early  conference  is  advisable  in  this  matter. 
In  the  meantime  in  regard  to  all  emergency  matters  involving 
emergency  demands,  especially  in  the  matter  of  animal  supply, 
I  am  proceeding  as  if  the  war  were  commencing  instead  of 
ending.  Your  decision  as  to  the  policy  which  we  are  to  pursue 
will  be  difficult,  but  at  least  there  should  now  be  formulated 
the  instructions  to  go  immediately  to  the  purchasing  services 
in  case  of  a  declaration  of  peace.  Millions  of  dollars  are  in- 
volved in  any  matter  of  delay  in  connection  with  the  formula- 
tion of  a  policy  in  action  thereon. 

11.  Various  communications  relative  to  expediting  ship- 
ment of  horses  from  England.  We  have  now  prospect  for  a 
minimum  of  18,000  animals  from  England  provided  we  do  not 
have  any  mishap  in  connection  with  transportation.  Wired 
Mr.  Dwight  Morrow,  of  Allied  Maritime  Transport  Council, 
and  Cravath  in  London  to  follow  this  matter  constantly. 
The  Commander-in-Chief  notified  me  last  night  that  we  may 
expect  27,000  horses  from  America  within  the  next  thirty 
days,  of  which,  of  course,  you  have  been  advised.  Have  re- 
wired Lieutenant-Colonel  Williams's  telegram  to  you. 


222        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

12.  Would  request  that  if  possible  instructions  be  given 
that  members  of  my  Staff  be  not  appointed  on  boards  of 
court  martial.  With  the  waste  talent  you  have  at  Blois  I  am 
sure  that  you  will  not  find  it  necessary  to  take  from  us  men 
engaged  in  work  of  the  greatest  possible  importance  to  the 
A.E.F.  and  which  if  delayed  will  become  steadily  more  diffi- 
cult of  accomplishment.  With  our  officers  already  all  over- 
worked any  encroachment  upon  their  work  will  be  extremely 
prejudicial  to  most  important  matters. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 

November  i,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To :       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  Oct.  31  and  Nov.  I : 

1 .  Attended  meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply 
at  Coubert.  Mr.  Edward  R.  Stettinius  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  C.  E.  Dudley  accompanied  me.  The  various  matters 
considered  at  the  meeting  and  action  taken  by  the  Board  will 
appear  in  the  minutes  which  will  be  forwarded  to  you.  Colonel 
Pa>'Ot  expressed  his  high  appreciation  of  the  honor  you  have 
done  him  in  inviting  him  to  accompany  you  on  a  tour  of  in- 
spection of  the  American  ports.  He  is  very  anxious  to  go,  but 
Marshal  Foch  will  not  consent  at  this  time  to  his  remaining 
away  from  Headquarters  for  a  period  of  three  days.  He  is  to 
telephone  me  to-morrow  as  to  whether  he  can  be  absent  for 
two  days,  in  which  event  he  will  go  with  you  on  Monday  or 
Tuesday.   Shall  keep  you  advised. 

2.  Conference  with  Major-General  Ford,  B.E.F.,  as  to 
horse  and  camion  cessions  from  British  army  to  A.E.F. 
Since  I  wired  you  1900  horses  are  on  the  water  for  Havre  and 
1900  additional  per  week  will  be  received  up  to  the  amount  of 
which  you  have  been  advised. 

3.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Williams,  who  has 
returned  from  England  in  connection  with  horses. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  223 

4.  Conference  with  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Williams  in  connection  with  Spanish 
mule  situation,  concerning  which  I  have  written  you  fully 
attaching  copy  of  the  agreement  which  I  have  made  with  the 
French  Government  relative  to  export  permit  for  5000  young 
mules  to  Spain,  the  terms  of  which  you  authorized  to  me  over 
the  telephone  this  morning.  Shipment  of  mules  from  Spain 
should  have  started  by  this  time  and  should  continue  at  the 
rate  of  800  per  day.  Prospects  are  good  for  a  supply  of  some 
35,000  animals  from  Spain  and  Portugal.  I  desire  to  com- 
mend again  the  efforts  of  Mr.  McFadden,  of  the  War  Trade 
Board,  in  connection  with  the  Spanish  situation.  I  have  be- 
fore recommended  Mr.  McFadden  for  a  Distinguished  Service 
Medal.  I  hope  very  much  that  he  will  receive  this,  for  his 
services  to  the  A.E.F.  have  been  most  distinguished.  To  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Williams  is  due  the  suggestion,  upon  which  I 
acted,  which  forms  the  basis  of  the  agreement  made  with  the 
French  Government  through  which  they  grant  export  permit 
for  young  animals  demanded  by  Spain. 

5.  Have  suggested  to  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply 
that  the  composite  figures  on  the  military  resources  actually 
in  possession  of  the  Allied  armies  on  October  31  be  secured. 
In  connection  with  this  and  also  because  it  is  desired  by  the 
War  Department,  request  will  go  out  to  the  armies  for  a  com- 
plete statement  of  all  munitions  in  their  hands  on  Oct.  31. 

6.  Consideration  of  report  of  Board  of  Contracts  and  Ad- 
justments for  quarter  ended  September  30,  1918,  which  I  am 
forwarding  you. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A, 

November  2,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  November  2: 
I.  Took  up  with  French  Mission  matter  of  coal  for  Tours, 


224         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

in  accordance  with  your  telegram,  upon  which  I  hope  to  make 
report  this  afternoon. 

2.  Also  took  up  with  French  Mission  matter  concerning 
the  Old  Instrument  Society,  regarding  which  the  Adjutant- 
General  wired  me. 

3.  Conference  with  General  Moseley  relative  to  matters 
of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  and  relation  of  G-4, 
G.H.Q.,  thereto. 

4.  Conference  with  members  of  office  Staff  relative  to  local 
automobile  situation. 

5.  Conference  with  members  of  office  Stafif  relative  to  de- 
tails for  court-martial  duty  of  officers  serving  under  the 
General  Purchasing  Agent.  Have  arranged  this  matter  satis- 
factorily with  General  Harts  by  suggesting  substitutes  for  the 
officers  named. 

6.  Conference  with  Major  D.  C.  Jackson,  Chief  Engineer, 
Technical  Board,  relative  to  certain  machinery  desired  from 
England  and  Channel  transportation  therefor. 

7.  Conference  with  Colonel  Robert  Bacon  relative  to  mat- 
ters which  have  been  the  subject  of  consultation  between 
yourself  and  myself,  involving  attitude  of  certain  British  and 
French  critics  of  our  army.  The  recent  news  of  our  continued 
advance  at  the  front  will  again  discourage  criticism,  but  there 
are  some  among  our  good  allies  who  will  never  forgive  General 
Pershing  for  not  having  agreed  to  destroy  the  entity  of  the 
American  army  by  its  amalgamation  by  brigade  into  the 
British  and  French  armies. 

8.  Consultations  relative  to  the  animal  situation,  the  re- 
sults of  which  have  been  wired  you.  It  is  hoped  that  a  large 
fiow  of  animals  to  our  troops  will  shortly  commence.  Animals 
are  already  on  their  way  from  England  and  probably  from 
Spain. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General y  Engineers,  N.A. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  225 

November  4,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply, 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  on  November  2 
(continued),  3,  and  4: 

1.  November  2  (conlinued):  Mr.  James  Keeley  and  Lord 
Northcliffe  called  upon  me  in  the  evening  relative  to  the  false 
critical  attacks  upon  the  i\merican  army.  Lord  Northcliffe 
has  prepared  an  article  for  the  press  in  anticipation  that  possi- 
bly these  statements  may  creep  into  the  papers.  However, 
the  news  of  the  great  victory  just  won  by  our  army  and  of  its 
continued  advance  has  in  my  judgment  silenced  the  pessimis- 
tic chirp  of  the  fireside  crickets  forever.  Even  if  victory  had 
not  been  achieved  our  casualty  lists  would  in  history  have 
repudiated  the  lie  that  our  first  advance  was  slow  because  of 
trouble  in  the  rear  rather  than  because  of  the  enemy  at  the 
front.  In  all  my  life  I  have  never  come  in  contact  with  as  un- 
founded and  miserable  lies  as  have  been  put  in  circulation  re- 
garding this  matter  with  the  apparent  idea  of  injuring  General 
Pershing  and  yourself. 

2.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief,  who  spent 
the  day  in  the  city,  leaving  at  1 1  p.m.  for  the  front.  Gave  him 
report  upon  the  animal  situation  which  I  repeated  to  you  by 
wire.  Telegram  to-day  announces  the  arrival  of  the  first 
Spanish  animals  at  Hendaye  on  their  way.  I  am  hopeful  that 
we  can  keep  a  constant  flow  of  from  5000  to  7000  animals  per 
week  to  the  army. 

3.  Secured  from  the  Commander-in-Chief  his  written  ap- 
proval of  the  regulations  prepared  by  the  Military  Board 
of  Allied  Supply  governing  second-line  telegraph  and  tele- 
phone in  the  rear  of  the  three  armies  and  in  reconquered 
territory. 

4.  November  3  and  4 :  Second  conference  at  office  with  Gen- 
eral Moseley  relative  to  matters  of  Military  Board  of  Allied 
Supply  in  connection  with  his  service. 


226         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

5.  Conference  with  Sir  Albert  Stanley,  member  of  the 
British  Cabinet,  relative  to  the  coal  situation  in  England.  I 
telephoned  you  concerning  this.  At  my  suggestion  Sir  Albert 
is  leaving  this  morning  for  an  interview  with  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  at  the  front.  The  matter  of  the  coal  supply  of  England 
being  under  Sir  Albert's  control,  he  states  there  is  confronting 
the  Allies  a  prospective  winter  shortage  of  twenty-one  million 
tons  of  English  coal,  notwithstanding  English  industries  and 
home  consumption  have  been  cut  to  a  dangerous  point.  To 
relieve  this  situation  80,000  miners  must  be  recalled  from  the 
English  army  immediately.  Sir  Douglas  Haig  informs  Sir 
Albert  that  the  English  army  cannot  spare  these  men  without 
grave  consequence.  Sir  Albert  will  therefore  request  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief to  give  Sir  Douglas  Haig,  if  possible,  three 
American  Divisions  to  take  their  place  in  the  British  line, 
thus  relieving  the  necessary  number  of  British  miners. 

6.  Conference  with  Major-General  Rogers  relative  to  pur- 
chase policy  of  the  A.E.F.  and  the  carrying  out  of  your  in- 
structions in  connection  therewith. 

7.  Conference  with  General  Crofton  Atkins,  Director- 
General  of  Transportation,  British  army,  relative  to  English 
coal  supply. 

8.  Received  word  from  French  Government  that  they 
would  endeavor  to  supply  coal  to  keep  Tours  lighted,  con- 
cerning which  I  telegraphed  you. 

9.  To-morrow  morning,  together  with  Colonel  Payot  and 
members  of  his  Staff,  I  expect  to  leave  for  Tours  to  join  you 
on  a  trip  of  inspection.  Colonel  Payot  has  again  written  me 
this  morning  expressing  his  great  appreciation  of  your  kind- 
ness in  extending  to  him  this  invitation.  He  also  adds  felici- 
tations upon  the  recent  success  of  the  American  army.  This 
accordingly  will  be  my  last  report  of  activities  until  my  re- 
turn. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  227 

November  16,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:  The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  from  Tuesday, 
November  5,  to  Saturday,  November  16.  As  the  Commanding 
General,  S.O.S.,  is  aware,  I  accompanied  him  on  his  tour  of 
inspection  of  the  ports  at  Bordeaux,  La  Pallice,  St.  Nazaire, 
and  Nantes,  starting  from  here  on  Tuesday,  November  5,  and 
returning  to  Paris  on  Saturday  night,  November  9.  On  the 
morning  of  November  11  the  armistice  was  declared,  im- 
mediately immersing  yourself  in  the  tremendous  task  of  re- 
versing your  great  machine  and  adjusting  it  to  the  new  con- 
ditions created  by  the  armistice.  Your  arrival  from  Tours  the 
night  of  November  11,  together  with  the  arrival  of  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief from  Chaumont  on  the  morning  of  the  12th, 
and  our  constant  conferences  together  in  connection  with  the 
immediate  and  energetic  steps  which  were  taken  to  stop  un- 
necessary purchases  and  construction,  are  all  a  matter  of  your 
personal  knowledge  and  do  not  require  a  report.  What  I 
write,  therefore,  in  this  connection  is  in  the  nature  of  a  mutual 
record.  The  great  press  of  work  upon  this  ofifice  during  this 
period  and  the  large  amount  of  work  done  in  verbal  conference 
must  necessarily  make  this  report  incomplete. 

I.  General  Merrone,  representing  the  Italian  Government, 
having  presented  telegram  from  the  Italian  Government  stat- 
ing that  they  have  1,000,000  Austrian  prisoners  and  200,000 
horses  with  no  provisions  for  feeding,  matter  was  first  taken 
up  with  you.  General  McAndrew,  and  General  Rogers  at 
General  Pershing's  house,  and  later  with  you,  General  Per- 
shing, General  McAndrew,  General  Rogers,  and  General  Mer- 
rone. Present  status  of  this  matter  is  as  follows:  General 
Pershing,  having  asked  me  to  obtain  recommendation  of 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  in  the  matter,  I  expect  to 
secure  same  to-day.  In  the  meantime  the  Italian  Government 
has  been  asked  the  amount  of  flour  which  it  desires.    It  has 


228         JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

also  been  requested  to  loan  the  A.E.F.  100,000  of  the  Austrian 
horses,  provided  they  are  serviceable  and  can  be  transported. 
General  Rogers  states  that  roughly  he  has  surplus  flour  in  the 
A.E.F.  stock  at  Marseilles  sufficient  to  feed  a  million  men  for 
twenty  days.  As  soon  as  telegram  is  received  from  the  Italian 
Government  that  they  can  transport  the  same  if  given  them, 
I  shall  again  present  the  matter  to  you  and  General  Pershing 
for  final  decision. 

2.  The  Treasury  Department  having  expressed  a  desire 
that  we  cease  importation  of  horses  from  Spain  if  in  any  way 
possible,  I  made  a  statement  on  November  13  to  Mr.  Oscar  T, 
Crosby,  Special  U.S.  Commissioner  for  Finance  in  Europe,  as 
to  the  situation.  Notwithstanding  the  declaration  of  the  ar- 
mistice the  High  Command  states  that  an  addition  of  106,000 
horses  to  the  present  supply  of  the  A.E.F.  is  needed.  The 
arrival  of  horses  from  Spain  and  from  England  will  not  in  the 
aggregate  amount  to  over  5000  horses  per  week.  The  Com- 
mander-in-Chief expresses  his  unwillingness  to  cancel  any  of 
the  present  arrangements  for  horses  from  either  Spain  or 
England  until  absolutely  assured  of  a  flow  of  serviceable 
horses  from  Italy.  A  copy  of  my  statement  to  Crosby  has 
been  sent  you  as  well  as  copy  of  cable  from  Secretary  Lansing 
suggesting  that  army  fill  its  horse  requirements  from  Italy 
instead  of  Spain.  Doubt  is  expressed  as  to  whether  Italian 
horses  are  in  serviceable  condition  and  also  as  to  whether  we 
can  transport  them.  The  need  of  horses  for  the  A.E.F.  is 
acute. 

3.  Conference  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  yourself 
relative  to  general  order  stopping  unnecessary  purchases  of 
A.E.F.  in  view  of  declaration  of  armistice. 

4.  Conference  with  W.  B.  Poland,  Director  for  Europe, 
Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium,  as  to  acute  need  of  horses 
for  Belgian  and  French  civilian  relief  in  reoccupied  territory. 
One  hundred  and  fifty  lorries  are  also  needed,  lOO  for  French 
territory  and  50  for  Belgian  territory. 

5.  Confirmation  of  cession  from  England  of  300  lorries. 


SECOND  HEAUQUARTERS.   GENERAL  PURCHASING   BOARD 
HOTEL  MEDITERRANEE,  PARIS 


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C:  DAILY  REPORTS  229 

6.  Instructions  to  Mcchem,  purchasing  agent  for  Italy,  in 
an  endeavor  to  expedite  matter  of  securing  Italian  horses  and 
telegraphic  correspondence  with  your  Headquarters  and 
British  General  Headquarters  relative  to  about  13^x3  horses 
landed  at  Rouen,  Havre,  and  Dieppe  where  no  transportation 
is  available  to  take  them  to  the  front. 

7.  Conference  with  General  Rogers  relative  to  the  horse 
situation. 

8.  Second  conference  with  W.  B.  Poland  relative  to  need  of 
500,000  pairs  of  military  boots,  600,000  suits  of  underwear, 
500,000  suits  of  jumpers,  etc.,  which  I  transmitted  to  the 
Quartermaster-General . 

9.  Conference  with  Poland  relative  to  need  of  personnel 
for  handling  civilian  relief  and  request  for  detail  of  officers 
experienced  in  same  for  his  assistance.  Also  took  up  matter 
with  Commander-in-Chief  for  Poland  relative  to  use  of  some 
engineer  troops  in  connection  with  providing  shelter  for  ref- 
ugees returning  to  reconquered  territory  in  France. 

10.  Conference  relative  to  action  of  some  of  the  services  in 
issuing  blanket  orders  for  cancellation  of  contracts  irrespective 
of  whether  they  are  subject  to  cancellation  under  their  terms. 
This  has  been  done  in  some  cases  in  apparent  direct  contra- 
diction of  your  order.  Your  order  would  indicate  that  moral 
principles  of  adherence  to  contracts  would  be  observ^ed  irre- 
spective of  immunity  of  a  Government  to  legal  action.  Have 
presented  this  matter  for  your  consideration  by  wire. 

11.  Conference  with  Major  Taylor,  Chairman  of  Board 
of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,  resulting  in  suggestion  that 
representatives  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  under  cer- 
tain circumstances  be  authorized  to  cancel  contracts  where  no 
doubt  existed  either  of  the  lack  of  necessity  for  the  article  or 
of  the  legal  right  of  cancellation.  While  this  unusual  course 
might  result  in  a  temporary  disarrangement  of  our  system, 
that  would  seem  to  be  a  minor  matter  as  compared  with  the 
saving  possible  by  such  a  course.  The  process  of  cancellation 
in  due  course  by  the  chiefs  of  the  purchasing  services  of  the 


230    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

large  number  of  outstanding  contracts  must  involve  some 
delay  which  can  be  obviated  to  some  extent  by  the  adoption 
of  this  suggestion. 

12.  Conference  with  W.  B.  Poland,  representing  Hoover 
Commission,  relative  to  sale  by  the  A.E.F.  of  three  million 
dollars' worth  of  food  to  the  Belgians,  which  has  been  arranged 
through  General  Rogers  and  representatives  of  the  Belgian 
Government  as  before  reported  to  you.  Received  approval  of 
same  by  Poland. 

13.  Conference  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Drake  relative  to 
his  recommendation  that  buying  by  the  various  services  in 
the  open  market  be  discontinued  and  arrangements  be  made 
with  the  French  and  British  authorities  that  we  may  first 
draw  upon  their  stocks  in  France  for  any  of  our  requirements 
which  their  supplies  or  surplus  can  meet,  and  in  case  they 
have  no  surplus  our  orders  be  then  placed  through  the  proper 
service  of  the  French  Government,  which  suggestion  I  note 
you  have  incorporated  in  your  General  Order  No.  54. 

14.  Conference  in  connection  with  carrying  out  your  Gen- 
eral Order  No.  54  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  General  Purchasing 
Agent's  organization. 

15.  Preparation  of  a  form  of  recommendation  of  Mili- 
tary Board  of  Allied  Supply  for  the  Commander-in-Chief,  as 
suggested  by  him,  for  the  proposed  transaction  between  the 
A.E.F.  and  Italy  covering  flour  and  horses.  This  morning 
sent  officers  to  British  General  Headquarters  with  form  for 
approval  of  General  Ford,  member  of  the  Board,  and  will  send 
officer  to  French  General  Headquarters  this  afternoon. 

16.  Conference  with  E.  R.  Stettinius,  representative  of 
Secretary  of  War,  relative  to  method  of  cancellation  of 
various  contracts  of  A.E.F. 

17.  Various  conferences  with  Staff  of  General  Purchasing 
Agent. 

18.  Conference  with  Commandant  Varaigne,  Chief  of  the 
French  Mission,  relative  to  methods  under  which  General 
Order  No.  54  shall  be  carried  out  by  General  Purchasing 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  231 

Agent  in  connection  with  requisitions  on  French  Government. 

19.  Preparation  of  various  orders  to  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Purchasing  Board  in  connection  with  carrying  out  in- 
structions in  General  Order  No.  54. 

20.  During  Thursday,  November  14,  accompanied  the 
Commander-in-Chief  to  Iwey,  north  of  Cambrai,  where  be- 
fore a  brigade  of  the  51st  Highland  Division,  acting  under  the 
authority  of  the  President,  he  decorated  Marshal  Haig  with 
the  Distinguished  Service  Medal  of  the  United  States. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 

November  21,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  from  November  17 
to  21  inclusive.  The  conferences  in  which  the  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent  was  engaged  have  been  varied,  and  since  nota- 
tion is  not  made  of  them  at  the  time  many  have  undoubtedly 
escaped  his  memory.  The  following  report  will  be  an  effort 
at  recapitulation  of  only  the  main  activities: 

I.  Conference  with  Poland,  of  Hoover  Commission,  rela- 
tive to  surplus  army  supplies  to  be  distributed  by  Mr.  Hoover 
in  civilian  relief.  As  suggested  in  your  telegram  of  the  17th 
he  communicated  with  the  Commander-in-Chief.  A  number 
of  conferences  were  held  by  the  General  Purchasing  Agent 
with  Mr.  Poland  and  his  associate,  Mr.  Brown,  relative  to  the 
general  subject  of  the  relation  of  Mr.  Hoover's  activities  to 
the  present  method  of  army  administration  with  a  view  of 
making  recommendations  in  connection  therewith  to  you  and 
the  Commander-in-Chief  should  any  suggest  themselves.  In 
accordance  with  Mr.  Poland's  request  you  have  detailed 
practically  all  of  the  officers  requested  by  him  for  his  assist- 
ance. In  this  connection  the  Commander-in-Chief  has  wired 
that  he  will  be  pleased  to  cable  recommendation  for  discharge 
of  these  officers  to  enable  them  to  serve  with  Hoover,  and  as 


232    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

an  emergency  measure  they  can  report  to  him  for  temporary 
duty  in  Allied  countries  only.  He  states  that  he  cannot 
authorize  them  to  visit  neutral  or  hostile  countries  while  they 
are  still  in  our  army. 

2.  Communicated  with  General  Travers-Clarke  relative  to 
increasing  our  supply  of  horses  from  England  or  from  surplus 
stock  of  the  B.E.F.  This  in  accordance  with  my  telegram  of 
November  i8  sent  to  you.  However,  in  accordance  with  your 
telephonic  communication  last  night,  stating  that  the  esti- 
mated needs  of  the  A.E.F.  have  been  reduced  from  106,000  to 
50,000  animals,  I  have  notified  General  Travers-Clarke  that 
we  shall  not  need  additional  animals.  Major-General  Ford, 
who  arrived  in  Paris  yesterday,  November  20,  stated  that  to 
the  best  of  his  knowledge  2600  horses  are  all  that  have  been 
delivered  or  are  on  their  way  and  that  the  cancellation  order 
would  probably  stop  shipments  in  excess  of  that  number. 

3.  Conference  with  Dwight  W.  Morrow,  Allied  Maritime 
Transport  Council,  relative  to  horse  situation. 

4.  Recei\-ed  word  from  General  Rogers  of  his  cancellation 
of  contracts  for  animals  in  Spain  and  Portugal. 

5.  Consideration  of  letters  in  reply  to  letters  received  by 
me  from  M.  Loucheur,  French  Minister  of  Armament,  and 
M.  Ganne,  Le  Commissaire  General  aux  Affaires  de  Guerre 
Franco-Americaines,  relative  to  the  subject  of  cancellation 
of  orders  by  the  A.E.F.  in  order  to  prevent  accumulation  of 
material  and  supplies  rendered  unnecessary  by  the  armistice. 
I  am  sending  you  herewith  copies  of  the  correspondence  which 
has  passed  between  us.  In  the  preparation  of  these  letters  I 
have  been  in  consultation  with  Mr.  Stettinius,  representative 
of  the  Secretary  of  War,  who  has  also  received  letters  from 
them  which  he  has  answered.  The  position  of  Mr.  Stettinius 
and  myself  in  this  connection  is  identical. 

6.  Conference  between  M.  Ganne,  Commandant  Varaigne, 
and  Commandant  Oppenheim,  of  the  Tardieu  Mission,  and 
Mr.  Stettinius,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jay,  and  myself,  relative 
to  the  subject  of  the  cancellation  of  orders  of  the  A.E.F.  as 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  233 

above.  An  understanding  was  reached.  An  outline  of  it  you 
will  note  in  the  letter  of  Commandant  Varaigne,  representing 
M.  Ganne,  to  myself,  dated  November  21.  The  French  Gov- 
ernment seems  to  have  accepted  our  contention  that  orders 
should  be  canceled  as  rapidly  as  possible  without  delaying  the 
cancellation  of  any  particular  order  until  all  have  had  con- 
sideration. The  position  I  took  with  M.  Ganne  was  that  the 
American  army  would  have  no  moral  right,  even  if  it  had  the 
legal  right,  not  to  take  every  possible  measure  to  prevent  the 
accumulation  of  material  rendered  useless  by  the  declaration 
of  the  armistice.  From  the  broad  economic  standpoint  the 
continuance  of  the  production  of  such  material  would  result 
not  only  in  the  loss  of  the  cost  of  labor  employed,  but  in 
many  cases  of  the  material  itself,  where  its  change  of  form 
would  unfit  it  for  any  but  the  special  use  for  which  it  was 
manufactured. 

7.  Conference  with  Major-General  Rogers,  Quartermaster- 
General,  relative  to  the  cession  of  food  supplies  to  the  Belgian 
army,  as  originally  arranged  by  him  and  confirmed  by  Mr. 
Poland.  That  there  may  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  full  acquies- 
cence of  Mr.  Hoover  in  this  connection.  General  Headquarters 
has  directed  suspension  of  deliveries  until  Mr.  Hoover's 
arrival  on  Monday. 

8.  Various  conferences  with  Mr.  Stettinius  and  Colonel 
Hull  relative  to  the  new  Finance  Bureau  provided  for  by 
General  Order  No.  199,  General  Headquarters.  The  General 
Purchasing  Agent  notes  that  in  General  Order  No.  199  it  is 
stated  that  the  Finance  Ofificer  will  supervise  the  activities 
of  the  Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,  the  Financial 
Requisition  Officer,  the  Financial  Requisition  Officer  of  Great 
Britain,  and  the  Bureau  of  Accounts.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  made  the  request  that 
these  boards  and  officers  be  directed  to  report  to  the  new 
Finance  Officer  and  pass  entirely  under  his  jurisdiction  and 
control,  thus  relieving  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  of  any 
responsibility  in  connection  with  them.  The  wording  of  the 


234    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

order,  "The  Finance  Officer  will  supervise  the  activities  of  the 
Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjustments,"  etc.,  should,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent,  be  altered  in  such 
a  way  that  the  above  purpose  is  made  clear.  The  various 
organizations  which  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  has  built 
up  and  which  are  now  operating  under  him  were  made  nec- 
essary by  the  great  emergencies  incident  to  time  of  war  as  well 
as  because  he  was  the  only  executive  Staff  officer  in  Paris  in 
juxtaposition  with  the  French  Government  and  representa- 
tives of  the  English  army  and  certain  sources  of  supply. 
In  addition,  in  connection  with  the  emergency  under  which 
the  A.E.F.  was  operating,  a  certain  centralized  supervision 
and  control  of  the  independent  activities  of  the  services  be- 
came necessary.  The  emergency  having  now  passed  and  the 
war  being  finished,  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  feels  that 
his  organization  should  be  quickly  demobilized  and  that  the 
various  bureaus  which  he  has  built  up  be  merged  into 
the  regular  army  organization  where  they  wilJ  continue  to 
operate.  To  the  Engineering  Department  should  pass  the 
Technical  Board  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent;  to  the 
Finance  Officer  should  pass  the  Board  of  Contracts  and  Ad- 
justments, the  Financial  Requisition  Officer,  the  Financial 
Requisition  Officer  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  Bureau  of 
Accounts;  for  the  Bureau  of  Reciprocal  Supply  there  is  no 
necessity  of  further  existence.  The  Labor  Bureau  and  the 
militarized  labor  of  the  A.E.F.  has  already  passed,  on  the  ist 
of  September,  to  the  Army  Service  Corps.  So  far  as  the  chair- 
manship of  the  General  Purchasing  Board  is  concerned  and 
the  position  of  General  Purchasing  Agent,  it  would  seem 
necessary  that  this  position  continue  for  a  short  time  longer. 
Since  in  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  this  office 
you  have  directed  that  as  far  as  possible  the  A.E.F.  endeavor 
to  supply  itself  from  stocks  held  by  the  French  Government, 
it  is  evident  that  there  will  be  very  little  if  any  purchasing 
done  in  the  outside  market.  The  French  Government,  in 
receiving  the  request  for  cessions  from  the  different  services, 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  235 

will  itself  coordinate  them,  preventing  competition.  The  Gen- 
eral Purchasing  Agent  feels  it  desirable  to  curtail  all  unneces- 
sary machinery,  and  while  he  is  in  hopes,  now  that  the  war  is 
over,  that  the  functions  of  the  General  Purchasing  Board  will 
be  greatly  narrowed,  it  will  still  be  advisable  to  retain  its 
existence  for  a  few  months. 

9.  Conference  with  General  Ford  relative  to  proposition 
of  Lieutenant-General  Travers-Clarke  looking  toward  close 
coordination  of  the  American  and  English  supply  situation 
and  the  handling  thereof,  chiefly  in  regard  to  financial  mat- 
ters. Arranged  an  interview  between  General  Ford  and  Colo- 
nel Hull,  the  new  Finance  Officer  of  the  A.E.F.,  for  the  purpose 
of  acquainting  Colonel  Hull  with  this  matter  which  will  natu- 
rally pass  under  his  jurisdiction.  I  am  sending  you  herewith 
letter  of  General  Travers-Clarke  to  me  in  this  connection. 
Acting  in  accordance  with  your  instructions  I  informed  him 
some  time  ago  that  the  principles  suggested  met  with  our  full 
approval. 

10.  Meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  was 
held  at  my  office  this  afternoon,  November  21.  In  accordance 
with  my  request  as  the  American  member,  made  at  the  meet- 
ing, the  Board  has  ordered  from  all  the  armies  a  statement 
of  their  supply,  transportation,  and  military  equipment,  with 
other  information  as  of  date  October  31,  191 8.  My  purpose 
in  having  this  information  compiled  was  primarily  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  complete  information  as  to  the  present  army 
supply  situation  with  a  view  to  determination  of  questions 
of  possible  interchange  of  supplies  and  facilitation  of  a  general 
liquidation  between  the  armies  of  any  surplus  stocks  which 
might  be  uncovered.  As  the  armies  are  demobilized  it  is  im- 
portant to  know  the  exact  time  when  any  surplus  food  sup- 
plies incident  to  demobilization  may  become  available  to 
help  the  acute  civilian  shortage  in  the  devastated  and  re- 
conquered districts.  It  is  also  important,  in  the  matter  of 
military  equipment  alone,  with  the  tremendous  surplus  which 
must  exist  in  the  armies  considered  as  three  that  any  particu- 


236    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

lar  army  satisfy  its  particular  needs  out  of  the  surplus  of  the 
other  two.  This  joint  consideration  of  the  supply  situation 
is  essential  to  any  proper  liquidation  of  army  material.  My 
second  purpose  was  to  have  a  picture  made  of  the  supply 
condition  of  the  armies  from  every  standpoint  at  the  end  of 
the  greatest  war  of  history.  The  Military  Board  of  Allied 
Supply,  representing  the  effort  at  supply  coordination  of  the 
Allied  armies  nearest  the  front,  possesses  the  means  of  gather- 
ing militar>'  information  which  should  be  of  value  and  interest 
to  military  students  for  all  time,  as  indeed  the  Board  itself 
should  be  as  representing  in  its  formation  and  conduct  the 
great  difficulties  as  well  as  the  great  ad^•antages  of  a  coordina- 
tion of  the  rear  of  allied  armies  to  match  their  military  unifi- 
cation at  the  front.  At  this  meeting  the  question  of  the  future 
location  of  the  Headquarters  of  the  Board  was  somewhat 
considered.  Colonel  Payot,  President  of  the  Board,  desires  to 
have  the  permanent  Staff  located  somewhere  near  General 
Foch's  Headquarters,  to  which  he  is  attached.  The  present 
Headquarters  of  the  Board  at  Coubert  will  probably  be 
abandoned.  The  inconvenience  and  traveling  involved  in  the 
location  of  the  Headquarters  of  the  Board  at  Metz  are  con- 
siderable. Major-General  Ford,  while  stating  his  willingness 
to  acquiesce  in  the  judgment  of  the  other  members  of  the 
committee,  feels  that  for  its  activities  the  separate  armies  can 
find  some  machinery  in  substitution.  Colonel  Payot  and  I  feel 
and  in  this  we  are  supported  by  our  respective  Commanders- 
in-Chief,  that  the  powers  over  the  three  armies  granted 
the  Committee  by  the  Governments  should  be  kept  alive, 
not  only  for  the  purpose  of  carr3-ing  on  such  work  as  that 
which  I  inaugurated  to-day,  but  for  use  in  connection  with 
situations  which  may  arise  hereafter.  The  Board  expressed 
the  desire  that  you  should  be  present  at  their  next  meeting 
which  will  take  place  at  my  office,  Elysee  Palace  Hotel,  on 
November  29,  1918. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  237 

[Enclosures] 
[Translation] 

MiNISTERE 
DE  L'ArMEMENT  ET 
DES 

Fabrications  de  Guerre  November  16,  1918 

My  dear  General, 

I  FORGOT  this  morning  to  speak  to  you  of  a  very  important 

question,  for  which  I  am  sorry.   It  is  this: 

The  American  army,  through  your  intermediary,  has 
passed  a  series  of  orders  to  mills,  for  matters  which  normally 
concern  the  Q.M. 

Certain  industrial  firms  advise  me  that  these  orders  are 
going  to  be  stopped  immediately.  The  result  will  be  the 
throwing  out  of  work  of  many  men  and  women,  and  will 
therefore  be  disastrous. 

For  the  French  orders,  we  are  taking  steps  to  readjust  the 
matter,  in  order  to  avoid  cessation  of  work;  I  urgently  re- 
quest you  to  do  the  same  thing. 

Of  course  my  services  are  at  your  disposal  to  examine  each 
particular  case  and  to  assist  you  as  much  as  possible. 

Cordially  yours 

Signed:  Loucheur 
Brigadier-General  C.  G.  Dawes 
Elysee  Palace  Hotel,  Paris 

November  20,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:       M.  Loucheur,  Minister  of  Armament. 
My  DEAR  Mr.  Minister: 

I  have  your  note  of  November  16,  in  which  you  speak  of  the 
matter  of  cancellation  of  orders  by  the  American  army  and 
that  you  regretted  not  having  spoken  to  me  about  the  mat- 
ter at  our  interview, 

I  agree  with  3'ou  that  this  whole  subject  of  cancellation 
must  be  handled  in  a  broad  spirit  and  we  shall  endeavor  to 
avail  ourselves  of  every  agency  to  secure  the  information  nec- 
essary to  intelligent  and  just  action  within  the  limits  of  our 
authority.  As  you  know  from  your  many  conferences  with 
him,  to  the  important  and  complicated  matters  of  ordnance 
and  aircraft  Mr.  Stettinius,  the  representative  of  the  Secre- 


238        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

tary  of  War,  is  giving  his  special  attention.   In  these  and  all 
other  matters  the  position  taken  by  the  army  relating  to 
cancellation  of  contracts  will  largely  be  determined  by  his 
adv^ice  as  representative  of  the  War  Department. 
With  assurances  of  my  personal  regard 

Very  sincerely 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 

[Translation] 
Presidence  du  Conseil 
Commissariat  General 
DEs  Affaires  de  Guerre 
Franco-Americaines  November  i6,  191 8 

From:  Le  CommissaireG6n6ral  aux  Affaires  de  Guerre  Franco- 
Americaines. 
To :      Le  Brigadier-General  Dawes,General  Purchasing  Agent. 

My  dear  General, 

Certain  of  the  Services  under  your  orders  have  already  sent, 
and  are  at  present  sending,  to  the  Mission  du  Commissariat 
General,  who  have  reported  to  me,  orders  for  cancellation, 
partial  or  total,  of  the  requests  for  cession  presented  by  these 
services  and  delivery  of  which  has  not  yet  been  commenced, 
or  is  in  course. 

I  feel  I  must  point  out  to  you  that  these  requests  for  can- 
cellation appear  difficult  to  accept  in  the  form  in  which  they 
have  been  drawn  up. 

You  will,  in  fact,  appreciate  that  although  certain  of  these 
cancellations  are  possible  and  desirable  by  reason  of  the  fact 
that  the  manufacture  of  the  material  in  question  is  not  far 
advanced,  certain  others  may  be  very  difficult  or  practically 
impossible. 

At  all  events,  the  matter  must  first  be  studied  as  to  the 
degree  of  advancement  of  the  various  orders  for  which  the 
deliveries  are  not  yet  completed. 

I  have  already  asked  the  various  French  Departments  to 
take  up  this  study,  the  results  of  which,  I  hope,  will  be  known 
shortly. 

Furthermore,  I  am  writing  Mr.  Stettinius,  making  him 
the  same  suggestions.  I  should  be  obliged  if  you  would  kindly 
let  me  know  if,  as  far  as  you  are  concerned,  they  meet  with 
your  approval. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  239 

Pending  the  agreement  to  be  made  with  Mr.  Stettinius  and 
with  you  in  this  connection,  I  am  giving  instructions  to  the 
Mission  which  is  with  your  services  to  hold  back,  for  the 
moment,  the  various  requests  for  cancellation  which  have 
reached  them. 

Signed:  Maurice  Ganne 

November  20,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F, 

To:       M.  Ganne,  Le  Commissaire  General  aux  Affaires  de 

Guerre  Franco-Americaines. 
My  dear  Mr.  Ganne: 

Answering  your  letter  of  November  16,  Mr.  Stettinius  has 
written  you  under  date  of  the  i8th  relative  to  the  same  matter. 
In  regard  to  the  request  for  cancellations  in  connection  with 
the  cessions  from  the  French  Government,  it  would  seem 
very  necessary  that  the  most  energetic  steps  be  taken  by  the 
French  Government  to  early  define  its  attitude  in  connection 
therewith.  So  far  as  the  American  army  is  concerned  it  would 
have  no  moral  right,  even  if  it  had  the  legal  right,  not  to  take 
every  possible  measure  to  prevent  the  accumulation  of  ma- 
terial rendered  useless  by  the  declaration  of  the  armistice. 
Again,  from  the  broad  economic  standpoint  the  continuance  of 
the  production  of  such  material  results  not  only  in  the  loss  of 
the  cost  of  labor  employed  in  it,  but  in  many  cases  of  the 
material  itself  where  its  change  of  form  would  unfit  it  for 
any  but  the  special  use  for  which  it  was  manufactured.  The 
difficulties  confronting  the  French  Government  in  the  defini- 
tion of  its  attitude  are  well  recognized,  involving  as  they  do 
wide  readjustment  in  labor  conditions  in  France.  However, 
in  regard  to  cessions  heretofore  requested  by  the  American 
Government  of  the  French  Government  there  would  seem  to 
be  but  one  right  position  for  the  American  army  to  take,  and 
that  is  the  immediate  cancellation  of  all  involving  unnecessary 
material.  And  in  this  connection  I  am  sure  the  French  Gov- 
ernment will  take  the  steps  necessary  at  once  for  the  protection 
of  its  own  interests  as  well  as  those  of  the  American  Govern- 
ment. 

In  the  letter  of  Mr.  Stettinius  of  November  18  he  points 
out  that  if  no  action  is  taken  with  respect  to  any  particular 
class  of  orders  until  information  from  all  of  your  various  serv- 
ices with  reference  to  all  orders  that  have  been  placed  with 


240    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

your  Government  is  secured,  it  would  obviously  involve  a 
delay  that  under  the  circumstances  should  not  be  permitted. 
I  agree  with  him  in  this  feeling  that  such  a  course  would  re- 
sult in  great  loss  to  the  American  army  without  corresponding 
benefit  to  the  French  Government. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  E7igiiieers,  N.A. 

[Translation] 

General  Commissariat  of  Franco-American  War  Affairs 

Mission  attached  to  the 

American  Services  at 

Paris  Paris,  21st  November,  1918 

From:  Commandant  Varaigne,  Chief  of  the  Mission  of  the 
General  Commissariat  attached  to  the  American 
Services  at  Paris. 

To:  Brigadier-General  Chas.  G.  Dawes,  General  Pur- 

chasing Agent,  A.E.F. 

Subject:  Cancellation  of  American  orders. 

Following  the  conversation  I  had  yesterday  with  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Jay,  I  have  the  honor  to  confirm  to  you  as  follows: 

The  chief  purchasing  officers  of  theAmerican  army,  amongst 
others  of  the  Ordnance  Department,  of  the  Corps  of  Engi- 
neers, of  the  Signal  Corps,  of  the  Chemical  Warfare  Service,  of 
the  Air  Service,  of  the  U.S.  Naval  Forces,  have  recently  re- 
quested me  to  inform  the  French  Services  that  they  wished  to 
cancel  the  orders  in  process  placed  by  them  with  the  said 
French  Services. 

Following  conversations  and  the  exchange  of  letters  with 
regard  to  the  cancellation  of  American  orders  between  the 
General  Commissioner  for  Franco-American  War  Affairs,  and 
principal  French  Services,  Mr.  Stettinius,  and  yourself,  I  had 
received  orders  from  the  Commissioner-General  not  to  trans- 
mit officially,  for  the  moment  at  least,  the  requests  for  can- 
cellation presented  by  each  American  Service,  and  the  Com- 
missioner-General himself  informed  you  of  this  decision,  by 
his  letter  No.  7396  AT.  of  November  16,  191 8. 

The  Commissioner-General  thought,  indeed,  that  these  re- 
quests were  but  concrete  cases  of  a  general  problem,  upon 
the  principles  of  which  it  was  necessary  to  reach  an  agreement 
before  undertaking  its  placing  in  operation. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  order  to  have  the  necessary'  data,  the 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  241 

Commissioner-General  for  Franco-American  War  Affairs  had 
requested  the  French  Services,  even  before  the  requests  for 
cancellation  of  the  American  Services  had  been  presented,  to 
draw  up  at  once  the  list  of  the  American  orders  with  their 
status  of  completion. 

Finally,  with  a  view  to  facilitating  the  work  of  the  French 
Services,  I  have  already  transmitted  to  them  unofficially  the 
lists  drawn  up  by  the  chief  purchasing  officers,  so  that  they 
are  already  cognizant  of  the  wishes  of  your  various  Depart- 
ments. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Commissioner-General  has  just 
authorized  me  to  advise  the  French  Services  that  they  could 
consider  as  officially  laid  before  them  the  requests  for  can- 
cellation which  I  had  already  sent  them. 

I  believe  I  may  say  that  the  French  Services  are  preparing 
as  rapidly  as  possible  the  work  requested  from  them  and  that 
in  many  cases  they  have  already  stopped  the  work  in  process. 

The  Chief  of  the  Mission 
attached  to  the  American  Services  at  Paris 
{Signed)  Varaigne 

General  Headquarters 
British  Armies  in  France 
28th  October,  19 1 8 

Dear  General  Dawes: 

Many  thanks  for  your  letter  of  the  23  October. 

I  think  that  your  letter  adequately  meets  most  of  the  points, 
and  doubtless  there  would  be  no  objection  to  the  expansion  of 
the  functions  of  the  two  bureaux  to  financial  liaison  work  in 
other  directions,  should  this  appear  useful.  My  conception  of 
the  sphere  of  usefulness  of  the  new  machinery  proposed  is 
outlined  in  the  following  extract  from  the  note  which  I  sent 
to  the  War  Office  submitting  the  proposal  for  their  considera- 
tion. 

Paragraph  3. 

The  functions  of  the  two  bureaux  would  be: 

(i)  To  work  out  details  in  regard  to  financial  questions  as  between 
the  British  Expeditionary  Force  and  the  American  Expedition- 
ary Force,  and  to  facilitate  the  framing  of  proposals  for  ac- 
ceptance by  their  resjiective  Headquarters. 

(2)  To  exchange  information  and  facilitate  the  working  out  of 
uniform  lines  of  action  (subject,  of  course,  to  the  approval  of 


242    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

their  respective  Headquarters)  on  financial  questions  of  common 
interest. 
These  questions  would  include: 

(a)  The  basis  on  which  permanent  improvements,  constructed  by 
the  British  or  American  armies,  to  docks,  quarries,  and  build- 
ings, etc.,  on  French  or  Belgian  soil,  should  be  transferred  to 
the  French  or  Belgian  Government,  or  to  corporations  or  in- 
dividuals, on  the  conclusion  of  hostilities  or  at  any  date  antece- 
dent thereto. 

(b)  The  basis  on  which  stores  and  materials  belonging  to  the  British 
or  American  armies  in  France  or  Belgium  should  be  rated  for 
sale  —  a  matter  which  will  be  of  particular  importance  in  case 
of  demobilization. 

(c)  What  measures  are  necessary  to  avoid  the  flooding  of  markets 
open  for  the  sale  of  British  or  American  stores  on  demobiliza- 
tion, the  decision  of  what  purchasers  (particularly  purchasers 
from  neutral  or  hostile  countries)  should  be  allowed  the  op- 
tion of  purchase,  and  how  such  applications  should  be  dealt 
with. 

The  American  and  British  armies  will  be  in  an  identical 
situation  in  regard  to  this  question.  They  will  have  large  quan- 
tities of  stores  and  material  on  foreign  soil,  and,  in  the  case  of 
the  British  army  to  a  certain  extent  and  of  the  American  army 
to  a  larger  extent,  will  not  be  able  economically  to  obtain  trans- 
port for  the  remo\'al  of  a  portion,  at  least,  of  the  stores  and 
material  to  their  own  countries. 

As  regards  the  British  and  American  armies,  it  is  clearly 
desirable  that  a  uniform  policy  in  this  matter  should  be  adopted, 
and  undesirable  that  one  Force  should  give  options  for  the  sale 
of  material  on  demobilization  to  neutral  (or  hostile)  purchasers 
and  not  another. 

(d)  Agreements  such  as  those  in  regard  to  the  repair  of  roads,  etc. 

(e)  Agreements  in  regard  to  railway  rates,  the  recovery  of  sums 
in  regard  to  contributions  of  material,  labor,  etc.,  by  the  British 
or  American  armies  in  respect  of  railway  lines  on  which  rates 
are  paid  to  French  or  Belgians, 

(f)  Questions  in  regard  to  the  rates  to  be  paid  to  civilian  labor. 

(g)  Questions  in  regard  to  purchases  in  France  and  Belgium  such  as 
those  which  it  is  proposed  to  deal  with  under  the  Central  Pur- 
chase Agency  scheme. 

(h)  Compensation  and  renting  of  land  and  buildings. 
Paragraph  4. 

Where  any  existing  machinery  exists  for  dealing  with  the  questions 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  243 

enumerated  in  paragraph  3,  the  function  of  the  two  bureaux  would  be 
more  in  the  nature  of  liaison  work,  and  it  is  probable  that  at  first,  at 
any  rate,  this  would  be  their  main  function. 

As  the  British  Bureau  would  be  directly  under  the  Q.M.G.'s  Branch 
of  General  Headquarters,  this  liaison  work  would  naturally  fit  in  with 
existing  machinery  at  G.H.Q.,  and  the  proposed  Bureau  would  be 
in  close  touch  with  the  financial  and  demobilization  section  of  the 
Q.M.G.'s  Branch. 
Paragraph  6. 

It  should  be  made  clear  at  once  that  the  proposed  scheme  would  in 
no  way  constitute  a  combination  between  the  British  and  Americans 
against  the  French  or  any  other  ally.  In  fact,  it  is  considered  that  it 
will  be  of  material  assistance  to  the  other  allies  in  their  negotiations  on 
general  questions  which  effect  both  the  American  Expeditionary  Force 
and  the  British  Expeditionary  Force  identically. 

While,  at  present,  separate  negotiations  have  to  be  undertaken  with 
each  of  these  two  forces,  and  the  progress  of  one  set  of  negotiations 
has,  directly  or  indirectly,  an  effect  upon  the  other  set  of  negotiations, 
such  questions  would  be  examined  jointly  by  the  two  Forces,  and  the 
point  of  view  of  the  French  or  any  other  Ally  would  be  met  on  a  uni- 
form basis. 
Paragraph  7. 

As  regards  (i)  of  the  functions  which  it  is  proposed  that  the  Bureau 
should  fulfill,  the  following  considerations  are  relevent: 

The  general  lines  for  financial  settlement  between  the  British  and 
American  Expeditionary  Forces  are  in  process  of  being  finally  set- 
tled; but  it  is  considered  that  the  bringing  of  the  negotiations  to 
a  conclusion,  acceptable  to  both  parties,  would  be  materially  assisted 
by  the  work  of  the  proposed  Bureau. 

A  number  of  detail  points  remain  to  be  settled,  and  additional  points 
are  sure  to  arise  from  time  to  time. 

The  speedy  settlement  of  these  is  desirable,  not  only  from  a  financial 
point  of  view,  but  because  settlement  is  materially  easier  when  such 
matters  are  fresh  and  dealt  with  promptly,  and  when  officers  conver- 
sant with  the  facts  still  remain  unchanged. 

2.  You  will  note  that  this  extract  contemplates  possibly  a 
wider  purview  than  that  contained  in  your  letter.  If,  how- 
ever, the  War  Ofifice  on  our  side  and  the  American  Authorities 
on  your  side  approve  the  general  scheme,  the  question  of  the 
exact  functions  which  will  be  entrusted  to  the  new  machinery 
could  be  discussed  and  settled  later. 

I  feel  strongly,  however,  that  the  American  and  British 


244    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Expeditionary  Forces  are  in  a  unique  position  in  regard  to 
financial  questions,  in  that  they  are  spending  large  sums  in 
fixed  installations  such  as  docks,  railways,  etc.,  and  are  ac- 
cumulating large  stores  on  foreign  soil,  and  it  is  most  undesir- 
able either  that  there  should  be  any  competition  in  the  ar- 
rangements for  the  disposal  of  these,  or  that  the  French  and 
Belgian  Governments  should  be  burdened  with  a  double  set 
of  negotiations  on  different  lines  in  regard  to  arrangements 
with  the  British  and  American  Forces  when  the  circumstances 
are  identical. 

Yours  sincerely 

(Signed)  Travers-Clarke 

November  30,  1918 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:      The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  for  the  period 
November  22  and  30,  inclusive.  A  report  of  activities  is  gen- 
erally brief  for  one  of  two  reasons  —  first,  that  there  are  no 
activities  to  report,  or  second,  that  they  are  so  numerous  that 
they  leave  no  time  in  which  to  report  them.  Your  own  personal 
contact  with  the  activities  of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent 
during  the  last  eight  days  no  doubt  indicates  to  you  the  im- 
possibility of  adequately  epitomizing  them. 

I.  Conferencewith  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  Command- 
ing General,  S.O.S.,  and  Mr.  Stettinius,  special  represent- 
ative of  the  Secretary  of  War,  relative  to  policies  involving 
cancellation  of  contracts  and  general  liquidation  of  property 
of  the  A.E.F.  The  Commander-in-Chief  having  cabled  rec- 
ommendation to  War  Department  of  a  course  to  be  pursued 
and  in  connection  therewith  having  approved  the  appoint- 
ment of  an  Advisory  Liquidating  Board  to  operate  under 
your  authority,  upon  which  you  named  Mr.  Stettinius,  Colo- 
nel Hull,  and  myself,  a  large  portion  of  my  time  has  been 
given  to  the  new  situation  created  thereby.  It  is  impossible  to 
enumerate  the  special  situations  considered,  many  of  which 
had  attention  in  conjunction  with  yourself.  These  consulta- 


EDWIN  B.  PARKER 
Chairman  U.S.  Liquidation  Commission,  War  Department 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  245 

tions  covered  preparation  of  notices  and  orders  to  chiefs  of 
purchasing  services,  etc. 

2.  Conference  with  M.  Ganne,  Le  Commissaire  General 
aux  Affaires  de  Guerre  Franco-Am6ricaines,  relative  to 
A.E.F.  civilian  labor  contracts.  The  adjustment  of  which 
matter  authorized  by  you  is  satisfactory  to  the  French,  since 
there  is  no  immediate  intention  to  discharge  French  civilian 
labor. 

3.  Conference  with  Mr.  W.  B.  Poland,  representative  of 
the  Hoover  Commission,  relative  to  supplies  to  be  furnished 
from  surplus  stocks  of  the  A.E.F.  for  civilian  relief.  Con- 
ference also  had  between  Rogers,  Poland,  and  the  General 
Purchasing  Agent  at  which  understanding  was  reached. 

4.  Meeting  of  the  Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply  at  which 
you  were  present.  I  obtained  authority  of  the  Board  for  the 
issuance  to  the  three  armies  of  orders  to  prepare  reports 
covering,  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  the  policy  of  rear 
supply,  changes  therein  and  the  reasons  therefor.  This  is  in 
addition  to,  but  in  connection  with,  the  issuance  of  orders  to 
the  three  armies,  made  at  my  suggestion  at  the  last  meeting, 
by  which  complete  information  as  to  the  status  of  men,  sup- 
plies, ammunition,  transportation,  etc.,  of  the  armies  at  the 
front  will  be  furnished  as  of  date  October  31,  19 18.  Attention 
is  called  to  the  necessity  of  coordination  between  G-4,  G.H.Q., 
and  the  C.G.,  S.O.S.,  in  the  preparation  of  a  history  of  the 
supply  services  of  the  A.E.F.  It  is  to  be  remembered  that 
in  all  probability  the  literature  of  the  Military  Board  of 
Allied  Supply,  since  it  covers  the  matter  of  coordination 
nearest  the  front  and  relates  to  all  the  armies,  will  be  in  the 
future  closely  examined  by  military  students.  It  would  seem 
important,  therefore,  that  while  the  record  of  the  supply  serv- 
ices of  the  A.E.F.  be  formulated  as  an  independent  record  for 
independent  preservation,  it  should  also  be  along  lines  which 
will  coordinate  it  with  similar  reports  from  the  other  two 
armies  to  be  preserved  in  the  records  of  the  Military  Board  of 
Allied  Supply.    I  have  named  Lieutenant-Colonel  Harry  L. 


246    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Hodges  in  connection  with  the  gathering  of  the  information 
from  the  A.E.F.,  and  since  I  am  under  your  authority  and  he 
under  mine  it  may  be  well  for  you  to  convey  suggestions  to 
him  direct  from  time  to  time  in  this  connection.  The  record 
of  the  English  army  will  be  prepared  under  the  supervision 
of  Major  Craig,  who  has  been  appointed  by  Major-General 
Reginald  Ford,  the  English  member  of  the  Board,  and  will 
have  an  office  in  my  Headquarters.  Close  contact  will  also 
be  had  by  Colonel  Hodges  and  Major  Craig  with  a  represent- 
ative named  by  the  French  army,  and  in  this  way  it  should 
be  possible  to  have  the  records  proceed  along  somewhat 
similar  lines,  although,  of  course,  conditions  affecting  the 
supply  problems  of  the  three  armies  have  been  so  different 
that  parallel  lines  cannot  be  followed  too  closely. 

5.  Shall  expect  to  confer  with  Mr.  Hoover  on  Wednesday 
in  the  matter  of  the  recommendation  of  the  French  Govern- 
ment, accepted  by  the  British  Government,  that  the  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply  be  the  medium  through  which  the  rep- 
resentatives of  Germany  submit  their  requests  for  food  and 
supply  allocation. 

6.  Various  conferences  on  matter  of  animal  supply  and  con- 
tracts therefor,  with  yourself,  the  Commander-in-Chief,  and 
General  Rogers  too  numerous  to  be  recapitulated,  and  in  view 
of  the  present  adjusted  situation  not  necessary  to  record. 

7.  I  notified  Dwight  Morrow,  Allied  Maritime  Transport 
Council,  that  the  animal  requirements  of  the  A.E.F.  have 
now  been  cut  down  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  from  106,000 
to  50,000,  but  that  all  animals  now  afloat  from  the  United 
States  and  which  shall  be  shipped  up  to  November  30,  the 
date  on  which  under  your  order  shipments  will  cease,  will  be 
needed  because  the  rate  of  flow  of  animals  from  Spain  and 
England  in  the  meantime  will  not  be  sufficient  to  meet 
emergency.  In  the  meantime  the  contracts  with  Spain  and 
England  have  been  canceled  as  far  as  possible. 

8.  Wired  purchasing  agent  for  Italy  to  drop  matter  of  ob- 
taining from  Italian  Government  captured  Austrian  horses. 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  247 

9.  Conference  with  M.  Loucheur,  French  Minister  of 
Armament,  relative  to  labor  situation  as  related  to  A.E.F. 
concerning  which  I  wired  you. 

10.  Have  recommended  that  the  Technical  Board  be  re- 
moved from  my  jurisdiction  and  placed  under  Chief  Engi- 
neer's office,  being  in  line  with  my  policy  of  the  demobili- 
zation as  far  as  possible  of  the  work  of  this  section  of  the 
Administrative  Stafif  and  the  transferring  of  the  bureaus  built 
up  under  emergency  to  their  proper  position  in  the  regular 
army  organization. 

11.  Various  conferences  with  Mr.  Stettinius  relative  to  the 
ordnance  and  aircraft  contract  situation  with  the  French  and 
British  Governments.   These  matters  are  in  his  charge. 

12.  Consideration  of  preparation  of  plan  relative  to  future 
purchases  of  A.E.F.  to  conform  to  instructions  in  G.O.  54, 
S.O.S.  This  plan  was  submitted  to  you  personally  and  ap- 
proved and  has  been  issued. 

13.  Meeting  of  Advisory  Liquidation  Board  on  Novem- 
ber 30.  Consideration  of  matters  of  general  policy  followed 
by  a  meeting  of  the  Board  with  the  General  Purchasing  Board 
for  discussion  and  instructions  in  connection  with  the  same. 

14.  Conferences  with  M.  Ganne,  General  McCoy,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel H.  B.  Moore,  Captain  Baker,  U.S.  Navy,  and 
others  including  Mr.  George  McFadden,  a  most  important 
factor  in  the  situation,  on  the  subject  of  the  immediate  use  of 
the  S.S.  La  France  for  transport  of  wounded  soldiers,  of 
which  we  should  know  results  soon. 

15.  Various  conferences  with  representatives  of  General 
Purchasing  Agent  in  England  and  Spain  relative  to  cancella- 
tion policy  and  contract  situation  in  these  countries.  These 
matters  are  considered  in  connection  with  Mr.  Stettinius  and 
Colonel  Hull. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 


248        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

December  12,  191 8 

From :  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 

To:       The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  from  December 
I  to  December  12,  inclusive: 

1.  Conference  with  George  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board, 
relative  to  S.S.  La  France.  With  cooperation  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Fadden authority  was  given  for  this  steamship  to  sail  with 
American  wounded  for  America  as  requested  by  you. 

2.  Conference  with  Mr.  Herbert  C.  Hoover  relative  to 
general  plan  of  cooperation  between  his  Commission  and  the 
A.E.F.  Mr.  Hoover  is  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  President 
and  the  final  outlining  of  his  authority  under  instructions  of 
the  President  and  agreement  of  the  Allies. 

3.  Conference  with  Mr.  Edward  R.  Stettinius,  special  rep- 
resentative of  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  regard  to  the  machine- 
tool  situation  of  the  A.E.F.  and  various  offers  being  received 
for  purchase  of  machine  tools. 

4.  Conference  with  General  Parker  relative  to  office 
quarters. 

5.  Conference  with  Mr.  W.  B.  Poland,  Commission  for  Re- 
lief in  Belgium,  relative  to  assignment  of  motor  cars  to  Com- 
mission. Arranged  with  Colonel  Smither,  G-4,  S.O.S.,  for 
assignment  of  twenty  cars  for  use  of  Commission. 

6.  Conference  with  Major-General  Langfitt  and  Colonel 
Boggs  relative  to  general  policy  of  liquidation  of  contracts. 

7.  Conference  with  W.  B.  Poland  relative  to  A.E.F.  per- 
sonnel for  use  by  Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium. 

8.  With  Mr.  Stettinius  attended  conference  with  M.  Tar- 
dieu  and  M.  Ganne,  at  which  Mr.  Stettinius  was  notified  that 
his  proposition  for  settlement  of  munition  situation  between 
French  and  American  Government  would  be  accepted  by 
M.  Loucheur,  French  Minister  of  Armament. 

9.  Conference  with  Edward  R.  Stettinius  relative  to  can- 
cellation of  orders  by  chiefs  of  services. 


HON.   H.   H.  MOLLIS 

Member  U.S.  Liquidation  Commission,  War  Department 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  249 

10.  At  request  of  the  Advisory  Liquidation  Board  prepared 
plan  for  method  of  liquidation  of  A.E.F.  property,  subject  to 
approval  of  the  War  Department,  for  recommendation  to  the 
Commanding  General,  S.O.S.  The  prepared  plan  was  adopted 
for  recommendation  by  the  Advisory  Liquidation  Board.  I 
also  read  the  plan  over  the  telephone  to  you  and  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, both  of  whom  approved.  The  plan  appears 
in  the  minutes  of  the  second  meeting  of  the  Advisory  Liquida- 
tion Board,  which  have  been  sent  you. 

11.  Meeting  of  the  General  Purchasing  Board  at  which  Mr. 
Stettinius  and  Colonel  Hull  were  present  and  at  which  was 
discussed  the  policy  of  liquidation  of  contracts. 

12.  Conference  with  General  Legge,  B.E.F.,  who  has  been 
sent,  under  the  plan  suggested  by  General  Travers-Clarke,  to 
take  charge  of  an  office  for  the  B.E.F.  in  this  building  for 
liaison  preparation  of  inter-army  and  Government  accounts. 

13.  Office  conference  relative  to  reduction  of  personnel. 

14.  Conference  with  General  Golligher,  B.E.F.,  relative  to 
general  method  of  preparation  of  inter-army  accounts. 

15.  Preparation  of  list  of  French,  British,  Belgian,  and 
Italian  officers  for  Distinguished  Service  Medal,  who  have 
rendered  distinguished  service  to  the  A.E.F.  in  connection 
with  my  own  department  of  the  Administrative  Staff. 

16.  Conference  with  Mr.  Stettinius  relative  to  General 
Atterbury's  suggestions  regarding  the  disposition  of  rolling 
stock  of  the  A.E.F.  I  am  glad  to  note  that  the  moral  obliga- 
tion which  I  expressed  last  year  to  the  Belgians,  in  connection 
with  the  cession  made  by  them  to  us  of  passenger  cars,  for  an 
option  to  them  after  the  war  on  five  thousand  American  army 
freight-cars  is  being  observed. 

17.  Conference  with  George  McFadden,  War  Trade  Board, 
who  is  about  to  leave  for  the  United  States.  I  desire  to  express 
great  appreciation  of  the  ability,  resourcefulness,  and  con- 
tinuous cooperation  of  Mr.  McFadden  with  the  A.E.F. 
There  has  been  the  closest  understanding  and  cooperation  at 
all  times  between  Mr.  McFadden  and  the  General  Purchasing 


250        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Agent.  Mr.  McFadden  has  rendered  distinguished  service  to 
his  country  and  it  should  be  properly  recognized  by  the  A.E.F. 
by  the  award  of  a  Distinguished  Service  Medal. 

1 8.  Consideration  of  telegram  from  Brigadier-General 
Krauthoff,  purchasing  agent  for  England,  and  reply  thereto 
in  connection  with  policy  of  cancellation  of  English  contracts 
with  the  A.E.F. 

19.  Conference  with  representatives  of  M.  Loucheur, 
Minister  of  Armament,  relative  to  employment  of  French 
girls  and  women  released  from  the  manufacture  of  gas-masks 
and  explosives.  Communicated  with  General  Rogers  in  this 
connection,  who  has  promised  all  possible  cooperation. 

20.  Meeting  of  Advisory  Liquidation  Board  in  re  cancella- 
tion of  contracts. 

21.  Conference  with  Commander-in-Chief  relative  to 
method  of  liquidation  of  army  property. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 

December  31,  19 18 

From:  The  General  Purchasing  Agent,  A.E.F. 
To:  The  Commanding  General,  Services  of  Supply, 
The  following  is  a  report  of  my  activities  from  December 
13  to  31  inclusive.  So  much  of  this  period  has  been  spent  by 
the  General  Purchasing  Agent  in  your  company,  notably  on 
tour  of  inspection  with  English  Generals  over  the  S.O.S.  and 
trip  to  Neufchateau  and  Chaumont,  that  you  are  personally 
advised  of  trend  of  affairs  in  this  office. 

1.  Various  conferences  with  Herbert  C.  Hoover  relative  to 
the  relation  of  his  activities  to  the  army  organization.  I  have 
transmitted  all  requests  for  personnel  made  by  him  upon  me 
to  you,  as  well  as  all  other  matters.  No  requests  for  personnel 
for  Hoover  through  me  have  been  made  except  through  S.O.S. 
Headquarters. 

2.  Mr.  Hoover  made  a  suggestion  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  that  I  go  to  Berlin  at  the  head  of  a  commission  in  con- 


C:  DAILY  REPORTS  251 

nection  with  his  organization  for  the  handling  of  food  sup- 
plies for  Germany,  The  Commander-in-Chief  called  me  into 
conference  upon  this  matter  and  seemed  to  be  of  the  opinion 
that  my  presence  here  in  connection  with  general  business 
matters  of  the  A.E.F.  is  necessary. 

3.  Arranged  conference  between  Hoover  and  the  English 
Director-General  of  Transportation  and  Supplies  at  Salonica. 

4.  Arranged  and  attended  conference  between  Herbert 
Hoover  and  General  Payot,  at  which  plans  were  made  for  the 
transport  by  the  French  army  of  such  surplus  supplies  of  the 
American  army  as  should  be  turned  over  to  Mr.  Hoover  in 
connection  with  his  work  of  relief  of  the  French  devastated 
districts  and  Belgium. 

5.  Preparation  of  recommendations  for  the  Distinguished 
Service  Medal,  as  requested  by  the  Adjutant-General.  The 
list  which  I  have  prepared  covers  military  and  civilian  officers 
of  Allied  Governments  who  have  rendered  exceptionally 
valuable  service  in  connection  with  the  furnishing  of  supplies 
to  the  A.E.F.  At  a  conference  upon  this  subject  with  Gen- 
eral Davis,  Adjutant-General,  A.E.F.,  he  outlined  to  me  the 
present  status  of  the  whole  question  of  Distinguished  Service 
Medal  awards.  While  the  policy  has  not  yet  been  decided, 
he  gave  me  to  understand  that  many  difficulties  would  at- 
tend the  bestowing  of  the  Distinguished  Service  Medal  upon 
French  civilian  officials.  If  the  obstacle  to  this  recognition  of 
civilian  official  assistance  to  the  A.E.F.  is  not  removed,  a  very 
embarrassing  situation  will  be  created.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  military  organization  in  France  is  partly  under 
civilian  authority;  that  in  the  rear  of  the  Zone  of  Advance  all 
supplies  are  handled  by  French  civil  departments;  that  it  is 
these  French  civil  departments  which  have  furnished  to  the 
A.E.F.  a  very  large  part  of  its  absolutely  essential  supplies. 
Considering  the  fact  that  the  A.E.F.  has  secured  from  the 
French  and  English  Governments,  and  through  purchases  on 
this  side  made  with  their  cooperation  and  approval,  practically 
two  thirds  of  its  supplies  of  all  kinds,  the  inability  to  recognize 


252    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

civilian  assistance  at  the  same  time  we  are  recognizing  the  as- 
sistance of  military  officers  in  connection  with  supplies  will 
create  an  injurious  misunderstanding  on  the  part  of  our  allies. 
To  my  mind  it  is  not  nearly  so  essential  that  in  the  reward  of 
conspicuous  merit  there  should  not  be  associated  with  it  a 
similar  recognition  of  less  distinguished  service  as  it  is  that  all 
meritorious  and  important  service  rendered  to  us  by  our  allies 
should  receive  some  mark  of  recognition  similar  to  that  which 
they  are  bestowing  upon  American  officers  and  citizens.  It 
would  seem  to  me  preferable  that  criticism  be  endured  to 
the  effect  that  the  distribution  of  the  Distinguished  Serv^ice 
Medal  was  made  so  wide  as  to  detract  to  some  extent  from  its 
value  than  to  be  justly  criticized  for  a  lack  of  recognition  of 
actual  service  performed  in  time  of  great  necessity.  However 
the  method  of  recognition  be  arrived  at  —  by  the  creation  of 
other  forms  than  the  Distinguished  Service  Medal  or  other- 
wise —  it  is  sincerely  to  be  hoped  that  the  recognition  of  the 
assistance  which  the  American  army  has  received  may  be 
general  and  generous  and  in  line  with  our  allies,  which,  in  the 
absence  of  other  forms  of  recognition,  it  will  not  be  if  what 
seems  to  be  the  present  view  as  to  the  limit  of  right  to  confer 
the  Distinguished  Service  Medal  prevails. 

6.  My  time  is  largely  occupied  and  will  be  for  some  time  in 
the  preparation,  as  you  have  directed,  of  a  report  of  the  record 
of  the  General  Purchasing  Agent  and  General  Purchasing 
Board  from  establishment  to  the  present  time. 

7.  Various  conferences  with  members  of  the  Advisory 
Liquidation  Board,  A.E.F.  As  the  connection  of  the  General 
Purchasing  Agent  with  these  matters  is  advisory  only  he  will 
not  report  on  them,  since  Colonel  Hull,  Finance  Officer,  makes 
full  report. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 
Brigadier-General,  Engineers,  N.A. 


HOMER  H.  JOHNSON 

Member  U.S.  Liquidation  Commission,  War  Department 


APPENDIX  D 
REPORT 

OF 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  CHARLES  G.  DAWES 

ON 

BOAT  DRILL  ON  ARMY  TRANSPORTS 

INFORMATION  AND  SUGGESTIONS  FOR  OFFICERS 

IN  COMMAND  OF  TROOPS 


APPENDIX  D 

Headquarters 
American  Expeditionary  Forces 

France,  September  20,  191 7 

I.  This  pamphlet  publishes  a  copy  of  a  report  prepared  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  G.  Dawes,  Corps  of  Engineers, 
National  Army,  who  was  in  command  of  boat  drills  for  the 
17th  Regiment  of  Engineers.  The  memoranda  herewith,  in- 
tended primarily  for  the  instruction  of  army  officers  (lands- 
men), are  commended  by  experienced  ship  officers,  including 
Captain  J.  T.  W.  Charles,  C.B.,  R.D.,  R.N.R.,  the  senior 
captain  of  the  Cunard  Line,  and  formerly  one  of  the  captains 
of  the  Lusitania. 

2.  The  report  is  published  in  full  for  the  information  and 
guidance  of  all  concerned.  It  is  directed  that  the  instructions 
contained  herein  be  carefully  studied  by  all  officers  in  charge 
of  troops  crossing  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  that  the  most 
energetic  means  be  taken  to  carry  them  out,  to  the  end  that 
the  lives  of  our  soldiers  may  not  be  sacrificed  in  case  of  acci- 
dent. Copies  of  this  pamphlet  will  be  distributed  to  all  trans- 
ports entering  the  ports  of  debarkation  of  the  A.E.F. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Pershing: 

James  G.  Harbord 
Lieutenant- Colonel,  General  Staff 
Chief  of  Staff 
Official: 

Benj.  Alvord 
Adjutant-General . 


256        JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

A.  BOAT  DRILL 

Information  and  Suggestions  for  Officers 

IN  Command  of  Troops  on 

Army  Transports 

During  the  near  future  American  soldiers  must  be  trans- 
ported by  sea  to  France.  When  they  are  placed  on  the  trans- 
ports their  officers,  although  for  the  most  part  landsmen  with 
little  or  no  sea  experience,  are  charged  with  the  gravest  re- 
sponsibilities for  their  care  arising  out  of  the  new  environment. 
What  is  written  has  been  submitted  for  revision  to  ship  offi- 
cers of  high  standing  who  have  been  on  ships  when  they  were 
torpedoed.  To  the  seaman  much  here  written  will  seem  su- 
perfluous, but  not  to  the  inexperienced  landsman  finding 
himself  suddenly  invested  with  new  and  heavy  responsibilities. 

The  importance  of  the  officer  landsman  keeping  intellec- 
tually humble  in  gathering  information  from  ship's  officers 
cannot  be  overstated.  Instances  have  occurred  where  mili- 
tar>'  officers  of  no  naval  or  sea  experience,  commanding  land 
forces  upon  transports,  have  insisted  upon  exercising  an 
authority  in  matters  not  relating  directly  to  navigation  which 
resulted  in  such  a  condition  on  the  ship  that  if  an  emergency 
had  arisen  it  would  probably  have  resulted  in  great  disaster. 
Hundreds  of  inexperienced  land  commanders  responsible  for 
the  proper  conduct  of  companies  and  regiments  upon  ships  in 
times  of  emergency  will,  during  the  next  year,  march  down  to 
the  ships  with  their  men  and  march  off  on  the  other  side  in 
safety.  But  such  an  officer  who  does  not  march  off  with  men 
who  have  been  thoroughly  instructed  and  drilled  for  a  tor- 
pedo attack  or  other  emergency  will  be  guilty  of  criminal 
negligence. 

I.  "Boat  Drill:'  "Boat  drill"  is  the  drill  designed  to  get 
men  in  time  of  emergency  from  their  quarters  below  deck  or 
elsewhere  in  the  shortest  time  and  by  the  quickest  route  to 
their  assigned  positions  opposite  their  proper  lifeboats  and 
rafts. 


D:  REPORT  ON  BOAT  DRILL  257 

The  officer  in  command  of  "boat  drill"  for  a  regiment 
should,  on  going  on  board  ship,  arrange  with  the  captain  of  the 
ship  or  the  chief  officer  or  the  naval  officers  in  charge  for  the 
earliest  possible  conference  on  the  matter  of  "boat  drill."  At 
such  a  conference  the  landsman  in  command  of  troops  should 
state  his  complete  or  partial  ignorance  of  ship  methods  and 
terms.  The  deference  and  courtesy  shown  his  rank  by  the 
ship's  officers  must  never  lead  him  to  "put  on  a  front."  If  he 
knows  nothing  he  should  tell  them  so.  They  will  soon  find  him 
out  without  his  informing  them,  but  he  will  save  himself  and 
them  time  if  he  will  make  it  clear  to  them  that  he  does  not 
pretend  to  know.  At  my  first  conference  with  ship  officers, 
they  would  occasionally  say  in  connection  with  advice,  "Of 
course,  if  you  think  best,  you  can  do  otherwise."  If  they  do 
this,  reply,  "Instruct  me  as  if  I  were  here  as  an  under  ship 
officer  to  transmit  and  interpret  your  instructions  and  sug- 
gestions to  troops  who  are  simply  passengers  trained  to  act  in 
unison  at  my  command."  Inexperience  and  ignorance  in  its 
association  with  experience  and  knowledge  will  always  profit 
by  humbleness  of  opinion.  The  ship  officers  know  what  to 
do  in  case  of  emergency;  the  landsman  does  not.  The  ship 
officers  have  been  through  it;  the  landsman  has  not. 

Notwithstanding  this,  the  landsman  is  to  become  prac- 
tically an  under  ship  officer,  partly  because  he  is  a  military 
commander  on  duty  with  his  troops,  and  in  part  because  all 
ships  are  now  running  short  of  full  crews. 

2.  Deck  Chart.  The  ship  officer  should  first  give  you  a  chart 
of  the  decks  of  the  ship  from  which  the  men  are  expected,  in 
times  of  emergency,  to  take  to  the  boats  and  rafts.  On  this 
chart  there  should  be  marked  the  position  of  the  boats  and 
rafts,  together  with  the  man-carrying  capacity  of  each  one. 
This  chart  will  become  the  basis  of  your  "boat  drill."  In 
general  the  ship's  officers  will  leave  to  you,  practically  with- 
out interference,  the  task  of  getting  the  men  on  deck  to  their 
prescribed  stations  in  the  shortest  period  of  time.  When  once 
your  men  are  on  deck  the  relation  of  the  ship's  officers  and 


258    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

crew  to  the  situation  becomes  different  and  will  be  discussed 
further  on. 

3.  Bulkhead  Doors.  The  ship  officers  will  explain  the  opera- 
tion and  point  out  the  location  of  bulkhead  doors.  They  will 
indicate  the  time  when  the  doors  will  be  closed.  This  is  very 
important  information,  as  "boat-drill"  routes  must  be  deter- 
mined upon  the  assumption  that  bulkhead  doors  are  closed  at 
all  times. 

4.  "  Boal-Driir'  Routes.  After  the  consultation  with  ship 
officers  and  receipt  of  the  deck  chart  from  them,  the  officer  in 
command  of  "boat  drill"  should  carefully  explore  the  holds 
and  stairways  leading  to  the  decks,  both  before  and  after  the 
companies  of  his  regiment  have  been  assigned  quarters.  He 
should  consult  the  captains  of  the  companies  for  advice  as  to 
the  best  route  for  their  men  to  the  decks.  //  seems  to  be  the 
consensus  of  advice  from  ship  and  naval  officers  that  the  forma- 
tions in  which  men  should  move  to  the  deck  should  conform  to  the 
deck  chart.  In  other  words,  if  you  bring  your  men  to  deck  by 
companies  they  will  in  many  cases  have  to  separate  after 
getting  there  in  going  to  different  parts  of  the  same  deck  or  to 
different  decks  in  order  to  be  opposite  the  boats  or  rafts  to 
which  they  are  assigned.  This  would  consume  time  which  can 
be  saved  by  having  the  men  assigned  to  the  same  section  of 
the  deck  take  the  same  route  from  the  hold,  even  though  it 
results  in  the  breaking  of  ordinary  military  units  into  new 
"boat-drill "  units  in  the  hold.  The  "boat-drill "  units  do  not 
necessarily  involve  a  change  in  the  first  location  of  troops  by 
companies  in  the  holds.  Forming  them  simply  means  that 
in  some  cases  the  "boat-drill"  unit  will  consist  of  men  be- 
longing to  two  different  companies  who  have  adjoining  quar- 
ters, and  are  united  into  a  "boat-drill"  unit  in  reference  to  a 
convenient  companionway  (stairway)  or  a  general  route  up. 

The  most  of  the  transport  ships  are  large,  having  six  or 
seven  decks,  the  lower  decks  being  enclosed  by  the  sides  of 
the  ship  and  constituting  the  quarters  for  the  men.  The 
way  from  the  lowest  quarters  in  the  hold  may  be  by  several 


D:  REPORT  ON  BOAT  DRILL  259 

different  flights  of  stairs  not  connected  by  a  straight  path, 
but  involving  the  "boat-drill "  unit  in  several  turns  and  twists 
on  the  way  up.  At  certain  decks  through  one  door  all  "boat- 
drill  "  units  may  converge  and  then  separate.  At  points  where 
congestion  is  liable  to  occur,  commissioned  officers  should  be 
stationed  at  all  times  of  the  night  so  as  to  prevent  panic  and  a 
mixing  of  the  "boat-drill"  units  in  case  of  a  rush  in  obedience 
to  the  agreed-upon  signal.  If  mistakes  are  made  in  the  selec- 
tion of  routes  to  the  deck,  the  first  drill  will  generally,  but  not 
always,  indicate  them.  Wherever  possible  the  contempora- 
neous joint  use  of  staircases  by  units  should  be  avoided,  as 
should  the  crossing  of  routes.  In  some  cases  this  will  be  found 
unavoidable.  The  commander  should  ask  for  suggestions 
from  captains  of  companies,  after  the  first  drill,  looking  to- 
ward the  bettering  of  the  assigned  routes  to  the  deck.  These 
routes,  however,  should  be  settled  as  soon  as  possible  so  that 
the  men  may  be  thoroughly  accustomed  to  them  before  the 
voyage  has  progressed  too  far.  After  they  are  selected  the  men 
composing  the  "boat-drill "  units  should  be  instructed  to  go  to  and 
from  their  quarters  in  the  hold  at  all  times,  day  and  night,  or  from 
one  deck  to  the  other,  by  their  prescribed  " boat-drill' '  routes  in 
order  that  they  may  take  them  naturally  in  case  of  attack  and  the 
sudden  giving  of  the  signals. 

In  some  cases,  particularly  on  the  boat  deck,  it  is  possible  to 
place  a  company  unbroken  before  the  boats  or  rafts  assigned 
to  them,  in  which  case  it  is  generally  possible  to  move  it  from 
the  hold  to  the  deck  as  a  company  "boat-drill"  unit.  The 
selection  of  the  best  routes  for  the  different  "boat-drill" 
units  from  the  hold  to  the  decks  is  a  matter  of  common  sense 
and  good  judgment. 

5.  Lanterns.  Always  ask  the  ship  officers  to  give  you  lan- 
terns or  oil  lamps  to  string  along  the  "boat-drill "  routes  in  the 
hold,  so  that  if  a  torpedo  attack  puts  the  ship's  dynamo  out  of 
commission  these  routes  will  not  be  left  in  darkness. 

6.  Meetings  of  Regimental  Officers  on  "Boat  Drill.''  Meet- 
ings of  the  regimental  officers  should  be  called  daily  to  re- 


260    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

ceive  Instructions  and  discuss  various  features  of  "boat  drill." 
These  instructions  in  turn  should  be  communicated  and  ex- 
plained to  meetings  of  the  non-commissioned  officers  by  com- 
pany commanders. 

7.  Portholes.  A  detail  of  two  men  from  each  company 
should  be  made  whose  duty  it  is  to  see  that  all  portholes  arc 
closed  at  night  during  the  entire  voyage,  and  closed  both  day 
and  night  during  passage  through  the  danger  zone.  The  reason 
for  closing  portholes  at  night  is  to  render  the  ship  less  con- 
spicuous as  an  object  of  attack.  They  are  closed  in  the  dan- 
ger zone  because,  if  the  ship  is  struck  and  lists,  she  will  fill 
more  rapidly  with  water  with  open  portholes,  and  be  less 
liable  to  right  herself. 

8.  Doctors.  Whenever  possible  a  doctor  should  be  assigned 
to  a  boat  and  instructed  to  precede  the  men  in  entering  the 
boat. 

9.  Signals.  The  general  signal  of  alarm  in  case  of  attack  or 
emergency  on  the  ship  is  given  by  five  short  blasts  of  the 
ship's  whistle.  Through  captains  all  men  should  be  instructed 
on  this  point  and  as  to  the  other  signals  for  "boat  drill." 
They  must  be  made  thoroughly  to  understand  that  five  blasts 
of  the  ship's  whistle  means  for  them,  "Boat  drill."  For 
simple  drill  purposes  the  "boat-drill"  signals  should  be  given 
at  an  agreed-upon  time  in  the  holds  and  upon  the  decks  by 
five  short  blasts  on  the  bugles  and  officers'  whistles,  constantly 
repeated.  The  same  bugle  and  whistle  signals  should  be  given 
in  real  emergency  as  in  drill,  for  in  certain  low  sections  of  the 
hold  it  is  difficult  to  hear  the  ship's  whistle.  At  the  first 
sounding  of  the  signal  all  men  should  immediately  run  to 
their  quarters,  put  on  their  life-belts  and  all  their  clothes  (in- 
cluding shoes),  and  then  run  by  their  prescribed  routes  to 
their  assigned  positions  on  the  decks  without  any  preliminary 
formation  into  ranks. 

Two  men  at  least  of  each  "boat-drill"  unit  should  be  a 
continuing  detail  to  go  thoroughly  through  its  quarters  after 
the  men  are  started  up  to  see  that  none  of  the  men  are  left  be- 


D :  REPORT  ON  BOAT  DRILL  261 

hind.  They  should  then  join  their  "boat-drill "  unit  as  fast  as 
possible  on  the  decks. 

10,  Mess  Drill.  The  men  gather  at  mess,  and  a  separate 
boat  drill  must  be  given  the  men  at  mess,  since  an  attack  is 
liable  to  find  them  there.  The  men  should  be  drilled  in  leav- 
ing the  messroom  by  prescribed  routes  to  their  quarters  and 
to  their  regular  deck  positions  in  "boat  drill." 

11.  At  an  early  stage  of  the  voyage,  hold  the  regiment  in 
"boat-drill"  formation  on  the  decks  and  go  before  each 
"boat-drill"  unit,  accompanied  by  a  ship  officer  (if  he  is 
available)  so  that  he  may  correct  any  of  your  mistakes.  Then 
address  the  men  on  the  subject  of  their  individual  conduct  in 
time  of  attack  or  emergency.  Remember  that  whenever  with 
the  imposition  of  discipline  the  reasons  for  it  can  be  properly 
given  it  is  doubly  effective.  This  admonition  should  cover 
the  proper  use  of  the  life-preservers,  and  other  important 
points  which  I  think  will  be  better  remembered  if  I  give  the 
substance  of  what  I  said  to  each  of  our  "boat-drill"  units  in 
the  17th  Engineers: 

Attention!  What  I  am  going  to  say  is  so  important  that  I 
have  brought  a  ship's  officer  with  me  to  correct  me  if  I  make 
mistakes.  If  we  are  struck  by  a  torpedo,  or  if  any  other  acci- 
dent happens  to  the  ship,  remember  that  your  main  reliance 
must  be  your  life-preserver.  The  lifeboats  and  rafts  are 
secondary  in  importance.  The  life-preserver  comes  first.  If 
you  adjust  it  right,  you  cannot  sink.  If  you  adjust  it  wrong,  i 
may  drown  you  by  keeping  your  head  under  water. 

Here  call  a  man  from  the  ranks  so  that  all  can  see  hin? 
and  adjust  his  life-preserver  right,  explaining  the  reasons 
for  each  adjustment.  The  ship  officer  may  be  willing  to  do 
this  for  you. 

Now  listen  carefully:  We  are  most  of  us  men  who  live  on  in- 
land waters.  Our  idea  is  naturally  that  the  less  clothes  a  man 
has  on  the  easier  it  is  to  keep  afloat  and  to  handle  himself  in 
the  water.  The  ship  officers  now  tell  us  we  must  forget  all 
that.  We  must  now  put  on  all  the  clothes  we  can  —  shoes, 
leggings,  and  all.   It  will  be  all  right  to  put  on  an  overcoat. 


262   JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

Then  put  on  your  life-preserver.  It  will  float  you,  clothes 
and  all.  If  you  do  not  have  your  clothes  on,  you  may  soon 
perish  in  the  water  from  exposure.  With  your  clothes  and 
shoes  on,  the  water  next  your  body  will  not  be  so  cold,  and 
you  will  last  longer  and  be  in  better  shape  when  the  boats 
come  to  pick  you  up.  When  we  get  into  the  danger  zone  you 
will  be  notified.  Then  keep  your  clothes  and  life-preservers 
on  day  and  night. 

Now  listen  again!  If  anything  happens,  and  you  are  called 
on  deck  by  the  five  blasts  from  the  ship's  whistle,  or  the  bugles 
or  the  officers'  whistles,  when  you  get  on  deck  do  not  inter- 
fere with  the  ship's  crew  who  are  handling  the  lifeboats  and 
rafts'  tackle.  Keep  away  from  the  ropes.  Do  not  crowd  around 
the  boats  and  rafts  so  as  to  interfere  with  their  being  launched. 
Obey  any  orders  given  by  the  ship  officer  07i  deck.  Give  the  ship's 
crew  room  to  work  in.   THEY  ARE  DOING  IT  FOR  YOU. 

12.  From  the  time  you  have  got  your  men  on  deck,  both 
you  and  they  should  be  in  the  hands  of  the  officers  of  the 
ship  so  far  as  the  giving  of  orders  is  concerned.  The  cir- 
cumstances that  may  arise  cannot  be  foretold.  The  boat  chart 
embodies  the  ship  officers'  ideas  of  the  best  distribution  of 
lifeboats  and  rafts.  But  the  ship  may  list  suddenly,  making 
impossible  the  launching  of  boats  and  rafts  on  one  side  and 
precipitating  the  line  of  men  formed  on  that  side  on  top 
of  the  men  opposite.  The  sudden  listing  forward,  backward, 
or  sideways  of  the  boat  may  entirely  disarrange  every  pro- 
gramme, throw  men  in  a  mass  into  situations  where  boats  or 
rafts  cannot  be  taken  —  prevent  the  launching  of  boats  and 
rafts  and  cause  great  confusion.  All  men  on  the  open  decks, 
especially  those  on  which  the  islands  are  located,  should  be 
warned  that  in  any  case  of  emergency,  and  the  sudden  listing 
of  the  ship,  they  must  keep  clear  of  material  sliding  along  the 
decks  or  falling  from  the  islands. 

Many  other  things  arising  from  the  explosion  of  a  torpedo 
may  in  an  instant  change  the  situation.  The  ship  may  sink 
in  a  few  minutes  or  be  hours  in  sinking.  It  is  because  of  their 
actual  experience  that  ship  officers  do  not  attach  much  im- 
portance to  any  use  of  military  commands  or  programmes 


D:  REPORT  ON  BOAT  DRILL  263 

after  the  men  are  on  deck.  When  they  are  on  deck  the  sit- 
uation should  be  left  practically  to  the  ship's  officers  and  to 
the  men  themselves.  An  attitude  on  the  part  of  a  military 
commander  which  would  discourage  individual  initiative  at 
such  a  time  might  mean  unnecessary  loss  of  life.  However, 
keep  constantly  in  your  mind  and  in  that  of  your  men  the 
necessity  of  not  interfering  with  the  ship's  crew  in  their  work 
on  the  ropes  and  lifeboats  and  rafts.  The  ship's  officer  may 
ask  for  help  in  handling  the  boats,  and  you  should  have  already 
prepared  a  detail  of  men  in  advance  for  this  emergency. 
Keep  your  men  from  interfering  with  the  ship's  officers  and 
men.  Consider  yourself  practically  an  under  ship  officer  tak- 
ing your  orders  from  the  ship's  officer  in  charge  of  your  deck. 
The  above  is  submitted. 

{Signed)     Charles  G.  Dawes 

Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Engineers 
National  Army 

B.  CIRCULAR  OF  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  CAPTAINS 

Headquarters 

17TH  U.S.  Engineers  (Railway) 

At  Sea,  August  2,  1917 

As  commanding  the  boat  drill  under  assignment  by  Colonel 
Sewell,  the  following  instructions  are  supplementary  to  the 
drill  orders  and  programme.  They  do  not  conflict  with  the 
established  method  of  boat  drill. 

I  am  informed  by  Colonel  Sewell  that  in  any  emergency  he 
will  endeavor  to  keep  in  megaphonic  communication  with 
the  regiment  at  night  from  the  rear  of  the  boat  deck  or  "B'' 
deck.  When  orders  are  given  by  him  they  will  be  communi- 
cated by  the  usual  military  course  on  the  boat  deck  and  "B" 
deck,  but  on  "C"  deck,  where  the  men  are  not  in  military 
formation,  they  will  be  repeated  by  me  to  those  below  from 
the  top  of  the  rear  island  on  "C"  deck. 

I.  Men  will  wear  their  clothes  with  life-preservers  on  at 


264   JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

night.  In  case  of  an  attack  or  emergency,  five  blasts  will  be 
given  by  the  ship's  whistle.  Officers  with  whistles  and  buglers 
in  the  holds  will  immediately  blow  five  blasts.  All  men 
should  immediately  go  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  their  pre- 
scribed deck  positions  by  their  prescribed  routes  as  in  boat 
drill. 

2.  A  detail  of  two  or  more  men  made  by  each  captain 
must  go  through  each  company  quarters,  after  the  men  have 
left  for  the  deck  in  boat-drill  formation,  to  make  certain  that 
all  men  are  out. 

3.  Commissioned  officers  will  be  stationed  at  points  in 
the  holds  on  the  way  up  where  company  routes  meet,  in  order 
to  prevent  breaking  of  units  and  resultant  confusion.  These 
officers  must  remain  at  their  posts  the  entire  night  each  night. 

4.  These  officers,  when  the  whistle  and  bugle  summons  are 
given  for  boat  drill  at  night  without  blasts  from  the  ship's 
whistle,  will  call  out,  as  the  men  pass:  "This  is  drill  only." 
This  should  result  in  the  men  exercising  greater  caution  as 
they  climb  the  ladders  to  the  decks.  Company  commanders 
must  keep  in  mind  that  some  men  may  jump  or  fall  over- 
board at  night  "boat  drill,"  in  which  event  neither  this  ship 
nor  any  other  ship  in  the  fleet  or  convoy  is  allowed  to  stop. 
Two  men  of  the  ship's  crew  will  be  stationed  at  the  stern  to 
throw  to  any  man  falling  overboard  a  life-preserver.  For 
to-night  only  the  life-preserver  will  carry  a  light. 

5.  Military  formation  will  be  kept  on  the  boat  deck  and 
"B "  deck  and  in  front  of  the  two  boats  on  " C "  deck,  accord- 
ing to  instructions  and  drill  already  given. 

6.  On  "C"  deck,  except  around  the  two  boats,  no  man 
will  be  in  military  formation  after  reaching  deck.  Not  in- 
cluding officers,  there  will  be  517  men  on  this  deck,  and  any 
orders  or  directions  will  be  given  by  me  from  the  rear  island 
from  which  the  rafts  will  be  launched. 

7.  Owing  to  the  shortage  of  ship  men,  the  officers  of  the 
raft  detail  on  the  rear  island  and  immediately  surrounding  it 
become  ship  officers  in  respect  to  certain  things.    As  Ship 


D:  REPORT  ON  BOAT  DRILL  265 

Officer  Bamber,  for  Instance,  must  communicate  with  me  by 
megaphone  as  to  the  time  of  starting  to  launch  rafts,  all  men 
should  be  cautioned  to  make  no  unnecessary  noise.  QUIET 
IS  IMPORTANT. 

8.  I  have  assigned  the  different  sections  of  the  raft  detail 
stationed  on  the  roof  of  the  rear  island  as  follows: 

Captain  Bullard  (senior),  section  A. 
Lieutenant  Farrington  (second),  section  B. 
Lieutenant  Halleck  (third),  section  C. 
Sergeant  Wallace  (fourth),  section  D. 
Sergeant  Rowell  (fifth),  section  E. 

9.  No  captain  must  leave  the  boat  until  his  men  are  off. 

10.  No  men  in  the  raft  detail  shall  take  to  the  water  unless 
ordered  by  me  or  by  the  officers  commanding  the  raft  detail, 
or  until  all  rafts  have  been  launched. 

11.  Night  officers  will  find  me  at  all  times,  at  night-time, 
in  the  after  wheel  house  through  door  immediately  in  rear 
of  the  gun. 

12.  LASTLY  AND  OF  GREAT  IMPORTANCE,  officers  must 
caution  men  to  keep  from  interfering  with  ship  officers  and 
men  who  are  lowering  boats  and  such  rafts  as  are  on  the 
boat  deck.     Keep  the  men  away  from  the  ropes. 

Charles  G.  Dawes 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  Engineers 

National  Army 

C.  TIME  FOR  ASSEMBLY  AT  BOAT  STATIONS 

Headquarters 
17TH  U.S.  Engineers  (Railway) 

At  Sea,  August  11,  1917 

From:    Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  G.  Dawes,  Engineers, 

National  Army. 
To:         The  Commanding  Officer,  17th  Engineers  (Railway). 
Subject:  Report  of  boat  drill,  17th  Engineers  (Railway). 
The   following   report   is   submitted   concerning   the   time 


266    JOURNAL  OF  THE  GREAT  WAR 

consumed  from  sounding  of  alarm  signals  to  arrival  of  last 
man  at  assigned  deck  station,  all  wearing  life-preservers, 
(1152  men): 
1ST  Boat  Drill 

(Daytime.)     Men   in   quarters   and   previously   notified. 

Bugle  and  officer's  whistle  signals.   3  minutes,  57  seconds. 
2D  Boat  Drill 

(Daytime.)    Men  in  quarters  and  previously  notified. 

Bugle  and  officer's  whistle  signals.  2  minutes,  25  seconds. 
3D  Boat  Drill 

(Daytime.)  No  previous  notice;  men  scattered.  Bugle  and 

officer's  whistle  signals.   3  minutes,  55  seconds. 
4TH  Boat  Drill 

(Night-time.)  No  previous  notice;  men  in  bunks  in  quarters 

(10  P.M.)  or  scattered  in  quarters  or  on  deck.    Bugle  and 

officer's  whistle  signals.  4  minutes. 
5TH  Boat  Drill 

(Daytime.)    No  previous  notice;  men  scattered.    Ship's 

whistle,  bugles  and  officer's  whistle  signals.    3  minutes, 

15  seconds. 

(Signed)    Charles  G.  Dawes 

Lieutenant- Colonel,  Engineers 
National  Army 


THE  END 


INDEX 


INDEX 


Accounts,  Bureau  of,  2,  29. 
Adams,  Major  C.  VV.,  commended 

in  Dawes's  Report,  I,  337. 
Advisory  Liquidating  Board,  I,  222, 

224;  2,  244,  247,  249. 
Aeroplanes,  night-flying,  I,  36. 
Airplanes,  night  bombing,  2,  84. 
Air  raids,  I,  48,  66,  132,  133. 
Alexander,  Grand  Duke,  of  Russia, 

1,  244,  245. 

Allied  armies,  strength  of,  on  Oct. 
31,  19 1 8,  I,  305;  condition  of,  on 
Oct.  31,  1918,  331. 

Allied  service  of  supply,  I,  84-90, 
120;  composite  picture  of,  264, 
268,  269;  report  on,  275-344.  See 
Military  Board,  Unification. 

Allies,  the,  condition  of,  at  the  time 
the  United  States  entered  the 
War,  I,  16,  25,  26,  68,  69. 

Alvord,  Colonel,  I,  23,  32. 

America,  condition  of  the  Allies  at 
the  time  of  her  entry  into  the  War, 
1, 16,  25,  26,  68,  69;  English  grati- 
tude to,  207;  had  not  prepared  for 
war,  228;  turned  the  tide  of  War, 
229;  magnitude  of  her  war  effort, 

2,  4-8. 

American  army,  to  be  kept  as  a  unit, 
1, 68,  70,  71,  158  n.,  163;  the  ques- 
tion of  use  of  troops  by  the  Eng- 
lish and  the  French,  94,  95;  the 
question  of  sending  troops  to 
Italy,  103,  105;  2,  85,  87,  92,  107, 
113;  praise  of,  I,  166;  problems  of 
rear,  179;  desire  of  French  and 
English  to  dissipate,  181,  189, 
190;  2,  205-07,  224;  criticism  of 
rear,  I,  181,  182,  189-91,  199;  2, 
205-07,  224,  225;  order  of  move- 
ment of,  I,  184  n. 


Americans,  constantly  preached  co- 
ordination, I,  342. 

Ames,  Junior,  I,  70,  132,  219. 

Amiens,  I,  139. 

Ammunition,  pooling  of,  I,  137,  143, 
320-23. 

Applause,  on  exit  and  at  other  times, 
I.  235. 

Argonne,  Battle  of,  I,  176,  177. 

Armenia,  I,  262. 

Armistice,  conference  on  terms  of, 
I.  194.  195;  signing  of,  202;  2,227; 
celebrations  of,  I,  203;  military 
form  of,  2,  217. 

Army  purchase  and  supply,  princi- 
ples of,  I,  74,  75;  2,  48-54, 

Arnould,  General,  I,  52. 

Artillery  in  action,  I,  51. 

Atkins,  General  Crofton,  I,  106, 
121. 

Atterbury,  General,  I,  34,  37,  129. 

Atwood,  Major,  I,  12,  56,  69;  stud- 
ies transportation  system,  14,  15, 
17. 

Austria-Hungary,  surrender  of,   I, 

197. 

Authority,  arbitrary,  use  of,  2,  143. 

Automatic  supplies,  2,  217. 

Automobile  Reser%'e,  Inter-Allied, 
I.  143,  147,  302,  323-28;  2,  171. 

Automobiles.  See  Fiat  motors,  Mo- 
tor. 

Auxiliary  Advisory  Committee, 
round  robin  of,  I,  67. 

Bacon,  Colonel,  I,  71,  214. 

Bacon,  Major  Robert,  I,  139;  com- 
mander of  the  Post  at  Chaumont, 
33;  and  Haig's  reflections  on  the 
A.E.F.,  196. 

Baker,  Secretary,  I,  246. 


270 


INDEX 


Ballard,  Major  George  S.,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  60. 

Ballast,  procuring  of,  I,  182,  186. 

Band,  headquarters,  plans  for  a,  I, 
124,  125,  137,  141;  a  splendid  or- 
ganization, 230,  239. 

Bartlett,  General,  I,  42. 

Battle-field,  a  visit  to,  I,  146. 

Beadon,  Colonel  R.  H.,  English 
army  representative,  I,  131,  134, 
169;  and  Payot,  160;  in  Dawes's 
Reports,  335;  2,  I4I-43- 

Beaumont,  Decoration  Day  exer- 
cises at,  I,  250,  251. 

Beeuwkes,  Colonel,  I,  255,  257. 

Belgian  army,  the,  I,  52,  121. 

Belgian  front,  account  of  trip  to,  I, 

47753- 

Belgium,  unjustly  criticized,  I,  64. 

Bell,  General,  I,  139. 

Belleau  Wood,  I,  147. 

Belmont,  Major,  I,  73. 

Bethel,  General,  I,  246. 

Biddle,  General,  I,  120. 

Blake,  Tiffany,  I,  231. 

Blatchford,  General,  1, 31,  32,  34,38. 

Bliss,  Cornelius  N.,  Jr.,  I,  47,  49. 

Bliss,  General,  I,  188;  approves  of 
scattering  troops  in  British  and 
French  lines,  70,  71. 

Board  of  Contracts  and  Adjust- 
ment, I,  72,  217;  2,  27. 

Boat  drill,  I,  6,  7,  20,  23,  28,  57,  271 ; 
Report  on,  254-66. 

Boggs,  Colonel  F.  C,  2,  14. 

Bolshevists,  the,  I,  244. 

Bonar,  Lieutenant  Olney,  I,  21;  2, 
14. 

Bordeaux,  I,  142,  143. 

Borden,  camp  at,  I,  8,  53. 

Botha,  General,  I,  246. 

Boyd,  Colonel,  I,  61,  71,  90,  92,  124; 
makes  contemporaneous  notes,  70. 

Brault,  Commandant,  I,  146. 

Bricker,  Colonel  E.  D.,  of  Ordnance 
Department,  2,  14,  32;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Reports,  63, 
122,  123. 


British  officers,  cordiality  of,  I,  9, 

See  English. 
British  reserves,  I,  52,  53. 
Buat,  General,  I,  167. 
Bullard,  General,  I,  92,  136. 
Bureau,  Control,  2,  20,  21.  , 
Bureau,  Finance,  2,  233. 
Bureau,  Labor,  2,  22-26.  See  Labor 

Bureau. 
Bureau,  Statistical,  2,  18. 
Bureau  of  Accounts,  I,  217;  2,  29. 
Bureau,  Claims  Settlement,  I,  54. 
Bureau  of  Foreign  Agencies,  2,  17. 
Bureau  of  Franco- American  affairs, 

2,  148,  151. 
Bureau  of  Purchase  Programme  and 

Classification,  2,  19,  20. 
Bureau  of  Reciprocal  Supply,  1, 217; 

2,30. 
Burkhalter,  Captain,  I,  15. 
Burton,  Pomeroy,  2,  68. 
Byllesby,  Colonel,  I,  136;  2,  63. 

Cabell,  Captain  R.  H.,  Jr.,  com' 
mended  in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  1 7, 
60. 

Cadorna,  I,  26. 

Cambrai,  I,  211. 

Cancellation.  See  Contracts. 

Cannot,  General,  I,  106. 

Card,  Colonel  D.  P.,  I,  21;  2,  13. 

Carpenter,  Captain  C.  E.,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  60, 
61. 

Carter,  General  William  H.,  I,  44, 
73,  121;  in  England  with  Dawes, 
255-59;  Director-General  of  For- 
age and  Supply  of  the  B.E.F.,  2, 
42. 

Category  Department,  purchase  by, 
2,  17. 

Causey,  Captain,  I,  15,  17. 

Central  Printing  Office,  2,  21, 

Ceremony,  the  place  of,  I,  235. 

Charles,  Captain,  I,  5. 

Chateau-Thierry,  I,  139,  147. 

Chemin-des-Dames,  I,  166. 

Chevalier,  General,  I,  265. 


INDEX 


271 


Christie,  Mr.,  I,  38. 

Claims  Settlement  Bureau,  I,  54. 

Clark,  Major,  I,  loi,  102. 

Clemenceau,  I,  105,  115. 

Clementel,  M.,  I,  114. 

Coal,  the  supplying  of,  I,  28-40, 
217;  2,31,  226. 

Coe,  Captain,  I,  4,  38,  56;  promo- 
tion for,  240. 

Conferences,  methods  in,  I,  241, 
242. 

Congressmen,  arrival  at  Paris,  I,  56. 

Connor,  General  Fox,  I,  129,  234. 

Connor,  General  W.  D.,  I,  250,  265. 

Contracts,  cancellation  of,  2,  229, 
230,  232,  233,  237-41,  244,  247. 

Contracts  and  Adjustments,  Board 
of,  2,  27. 

Control  Bureau,  2,  20,  21. 

Cook,  Captain  E.  S.,  2,  64. 

Cooperation,  French,  I,  173,  179, 
187;  2,  36-41,  147;  British,  41, 
42, 126,  141-43;  of  the  War  Trade 
Board,  42-45. 

Coordination,  between  the  Allies,  I, 
34-45.  56-60,  84-90,  143;  impor- 
tance of,  227;  general  considera- 
tions concerning  the  opposition 
to,  and  the  importance  of,  337- 
44;  of  French,  English,  and  Amer- 
ican purchases  in  neutral  coun- 
tries, 2,  14,  45-47.  See  Military 
Board  of  Allied  Supply,  Unifica- 
tion. 

Corsy,  battle-field  of,  I,  146. 

Costs,  methods  of  computing,  2,  201. 

Coubert,  I,  133. 

Counter-attack,  the  great,  I,  137, 
140. 

Court  Martial,  a,  I,  15. 

Covell,  Captain  F.  C,  I,  8,  10,  11, 

255.  257- 

Cowans,  General  Sir  John,  his  atti- 
tude toward  cooperation,  I,  106, 
121,  265,  297;  2,  42,  125,  142. 

Craig,  Major,  2,  246. 

Crampton,  Captain  W.  D.,  2,  64. 

Cravath,  Paul  D.,  I,  114,  115,  121; 


commended  in  Dawes's  Report, 
297. 

Criticism,  the  best  exponents  of,  I, 
249. 

Crozier,  General,  I,  103. 

Cudebec,  Captain  A.  B.,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  26, 

27- 

Cumont,  Major,  commended  in 
Dawes's  Report,  I,  335. 

Currie,  General  Sir  A.  \V.,  I,  92  n. 

Curry,  Sir  J.  W.,  I,  106. 

Gushing,  Major,  I,  38,  61,  191; 
studies  dock  situation,  15,  17; 
anecdote  told  by,  19. 

Cutcheon,  Colonel  F.  W.  M.,  chair- 
man of  Board  of  Contracts  and 
Adjustment,  I,  72;  splendid  work 
of,  82,  83;  promotion,  106;  2,  112; 
commended  in  Dawes's  Report, 
28,  47. 

Damrosch,  Walter,  I,  136,  141;  2, 

151- 
Darrow,  Mr.,  I,  165. 
Davidson,  Colonel  G.,  I,  265;  2,42. 
Davidson,  J.,  bust  of  Pershing  by, 

I,  246. 
Davis,  General,  I,  174. 
Davison,  Harr^',  I,  84. 
Dawes,  Beman,  brother  of  Charles 

G.,  I,  247,  250,  251. 
Dawes,  Beman  Gates,  I,  23,  28,  69, 

115,   219;   honorable    service    of, 

215,  216. 
Dawes,  Colonel  Bethel,  I,  256. 
Dawes,  Betty,  I,  256. 
Dawes,  Caro,  wife  of  Charles  G.,  I, 

3,69. 
Dawes,      Carolyn,      daughter      of 

Charles  G.,  I,  3. 
Dawes,  Charles,  I,  69,  146,  215,  216, 

219. 
Dawes,  Charles  Ambrose  William, 

I,  256,  260. 
Dawes,   Charles  G.,  receives  com- 
mission as  Major,  I,  3;  receives 

commission  as   Lieutenant-Colo- 


2^2 


INDEX 


nel,  4;  desired  in  food  department 
by  Hoover,  5;  his  report  on  boat 
drill,  6,  7;  2,  255-66;  military  life 
a  new  experience  to,  I,  9,  10; 
and  M.  Van  de  Vyvere,  12,  13;  on 
the  spirit  of  the  Allies  when  the 
United  States  entered  the  war, 
16;  birthday  dinner  to,  19;  made 
head  of  board  representing  pur- 
chasing departments  of  army,  21 ; 
made  General  Purchasing  Agent 
in  Europe  for  A.E.F.,  21;  powers 
given  to,  in  new  position,  21; 
makes  suggestion  on  supply  ships 
from  England,  22;  headquarters 
in  Paris,  23,  24;  visits  French 
Minister  of  War,  24;  has  sup- 
port of  Pershing,  27;  and  the 
coal  situation,  28-40;  on  the 
probabilities  of  success,  29;  inter- 
view with  Admiral  Sims  on  the 
coal  transportation  problem,  31; 
on  need  of  coordination,  34,  35, 
37,  38,  40,  41;  and  the  supplying 
of  labor,  41,  42;  Pershing  pleased 
with  his  activities,  45;  letters  to 
his  mother,  46-53,  208-19,  254- 
60;  his  exercise  of  power  with  pa- 
tience, 55;  efforts  to  save  ship- 
ping space,  55;  success  in  coor- 
dination, 56;  his  judgment  as 
to  who  will  win,  56,  57;  his  pow- 
ers, 58;  secures  Belgian  locomo- 
tives, 62;  recommended  for  pro- 
motion, 67;  receives  his  eagles, 
69,  undertakes  the  labor  prob- 
lem, 71,  72;  his  principles  of 
army  purchase  and  supply,  74, 
75;  recommended  for  government 
finance  corporation,  82;  urges  uni- 
fication of  Allied  support,  84-90; 
representative  to  confer  with 
French,  96  n.,  100,  104,  his  sug- 
gestion to  form  new  division  of  the 
General  Staff,  104;  letter  to  Jean- 
neney,  on  unification  of  supplies, 
107-14;  visits  London  and  se- 
cures adhesion  of  England  to  the 


plan,  120,  121;  heavy  burdens  of 
his  position,  i35;goesontourof  the 
ports,  141,  142,  204;  2,  158,  227; 
relations  with  Payot,  I,  144,  145; 
visits  battle-field,  145-47;  Per- 
shing's and  Harbord's  confidence 
in,  147,  153;  letter  to  Pershing  on 
work  of  Board  of  Supply,  148-52; 
Payot  objects  to  his  leaving  the 
Board,  152;  and  the  Labor  Bu- 
reau, 163-65;  visits  the  front,  165, 
166;  notes  of,  for  future  historian, 
on  unification,  200-02;  theatre 
party  of,  206,  211;  letter  of 
William  C.  Dawes  to,  207,  208; 
recognized  by  Marshal  Haig,  213; 
his  regard  for  the  English  and  the 
French,  216,  217;  his  process  of 
building  up  the  Staff  Department, 
217,  218;  named  Commander  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor  by  the 
French,  219, 220;  makes  four  days' 
trip  over  Services  of  Supply,  224- 
26;  crayon  portrait  of,  225;  pro- 
posed detail  of,  to  Berlin,  228-31; 
his  Official  Report  as  General  Pur- 
chasing Agent,  231,  232,  237,  238; 
receives  Distinguished  Service 
Medal,  232,  233,  235;  letter  of 
appreciation  from  Pershing  to, 
232  n.;  his  disregard  of  conven- 
tions, 234, 241 ;  goes  to  the  Riviera, 
236;  receives  decoration  of  Com- 
mander of  the  Legion  of  Honor, 
236;  member  of  the  Liquidating 
Commission,  236,  237;  his  Re- 
port as  American  Member  of  the 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply, 
238,  242,  249,  275-344;  telegram 
of  appreciation  from  the  17th 
Engineers  to,  240  n.;  conversa- 
tion with  Grand  Duke  Alexander 
of  Russia,  244,  245;  witnesses 
march  of  33d  Division,  245,  246; 
made  a  Companion  of  the  Bath, 
247;  presented  with  a  sword  by 
Pershing,  248;  Commandery  of 
the  Order  of  Leopold  conferred 


INDEX 


273 


upon,   253;  visits  English  home 

of  the  Uawes  family,  254-60;  in 

a  depressed  mood,  262,  263;  gives 

dinner  in   honor  of   Payot,  265; 

cited  in  orders  by  Foch,  265,  268; 

receives    Croix   de    Guerre,    266, 

268;  leaves  for  America,  271;  his 

Staff,  336,  337. 
Dawes,  Sir  Edwin,  I,  258. 
Dawes,  Lancelot,  I,  256,  259. 
Dawes,  Mary  B.,  mother  of  Charles 

G.,  letters  to,  I,  46-53,  208-19, 

254-60. 
Dawes,  Captain  Sandys,  I,  255-59. 
Dawes,  Ephraim,  uncle  of  Charles 

G.,  I,  194,  215. 
Dawes,  Rufus  Fearing,  I,  i;  death 

of,  22,  23,  73. 
Dawes,  Rufus  R.,  father  of  Charles 

G.,  I,  194.  213- 
Dawes,  Major  William,  I,  258. 
Dawes,  William,  of  Boston,  I,  260. 
Dawes,  William,  of  Evanston,  1, 260. 
Dawes,    William,    of    Sudbury,    I, 

258. 
Dawes,    William    C,    of    England, 

letters  to  Charles  G.   Dawes,  I, 

28,  207, 208,  250;  at  Mt.  Ephraim, 
^    256. 
Dawes,    William    M.,    nephew    of 

Charles  G.,  fine  work  of,  I,  67, 

69;  in  Tank  Battalion,  170,  177, 

178,  193,  214,  215,  219. 
Dawes  family,  English  home  of  the, 

I,  254-60. 
De  Castres,  Countess,  I,  174. 
De  Chambrun,  Colonel,  I,  65,  266. 
Decoration    Day,   exercises   on,    I, 

250,  251. 
De  Couninck,  General,  I,  49. 
Degoutte,  General,  I,  136. 
De  Grailly,  Colonel,  I,  118. 
Delano,  Fred,  I,  5. 
De  Marenches,  Captain,  I,  92,  266. 
De  Neuflize,  Lieutenant,  I,  104. 
De  Sieyes,  Lieutenant,  I,  146. 
Detail,  General,  I,  52. 
De  Tessant,  Lieutenant,  I,  38. 


De  Vyvere,  M.  Van,  Belgian  Min- 
ister of  Finance,  friend  of  Dawes, 
I,  12,  13,  69,  145;  letter  from,  42; 
in  Northern  France  with,  47-52; 
an  unusual  man,  47;  represents 
Inter-Allied  Conference  at  Paris, 
62;  lunch  with,  63;  Dawes's  part- 
ing from,  252;  at  Payot  dinner, 
265. 

Diplomatic  service,  not  for  men  of 
wealth  solely,  I,  81. 

Distinguished  Service  Medal, 
awards,  to  allies,  I,  230;  awarded 
to  Dawes,  232,  233,  235;  awarded 
to  other  American  Generals,  235; 
awarded  to  McFadden,  243; 
awarded  to  Ford,  244;  awarded 
to  Varaigne,  253;  disappointment 
caused  at  awards  of,  263;  recom- 
mendations for,  2,  249,  251;  pol- 
icy to  be  followed  in  awarding, 
251,  252. 

Dixmude,  I,  51. 

Dock  facilities,  French,  I,  17,  20,  38, 

Doumenc,  Commandant,  I,  169, 
176,  265. 

Drake,  Colonel  F.  E.,  of  Technical 
Board,  2,  26;  Report  of,  quoted, 
26;  commended  in  Dawes's  Re- 
port, 18,  59,  112. 

Drum,  General,  I,  186,  187. 

Dunkirk,  I,  47,  48;  2,  203,  208-II. 

Dunn,  Captain  Morrill,  2,  14. 

Dunning,  Captain  J.  E.,  I,  22 ;  2,  63. 

Dunwoody,  Colonel  H.,  2,  14. 

Dyar,  Captain  W,  W.,  I,  61,  136; 
2,64. 

Eagles,  a  colonel's,  I,  69. 

Edwards,  General,  I,  70. 

Egan,  Martin,  I,  120;  commended 
in  Dawes's  Report,  297. 

Electrical  power,  utilization  of,  2, 
26. 

Engineers  (17th  Regiment,  Na- 
tional Army),  embark  on  Car- 
mania,  for  Liverpool,  I,  5;  arrival 
in  England,  8;  at  Oxney  Cam;\, 


274 


INDEX 


8,  53;  in  parade  in  London,  10, 
11;  embark  at  Southampton  for 
France,  li;  arrival  at  HavTe,  11, 
12;  at  St.  Nazaire,  13;  promotions 
in,  240;  returns  home,  240,  245; 
telegram  from,  to  Dawes,  240  n. 

England,  slow  to  join  the  Board  of 
Supply,  I,  106,  107,  114,  115,  120; 
2,  166;  represented  in  the  Board, 
I,  131,  132;  will  not  concede  the- 
oretical authority  for  one  army, 
134.  135.  "40;  show  greater  in- 
terest in  Military  Board,  154,  156, 
158,  161;  British  General  Staff 
to  be  represented  on  Board,  169, 
177;  2,  172,  181;  cooperation  of, 
41,  42,  126,  141-43. 

English,  the,  morale  of,  I,  59;  ob- 
stinacy of,  98;  conservatism  of, 
106-14,  161;  character  of,  131, 
196;  Dawes's  regard  for,  216;  re- 
luctant to  furnish  information  as 
to  rear  ser\'ice,  225. 

Ericson,  Captain  Melvin,  I,  230. 

Estes,  Colonel  F.  E.,  I,  15;  and  the 
Labor  Bureau,  164;  commended 
in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  24. 

Europe,  political  conditions  in,  I, 

243- 
Exchange     situation,     method     of 
solving,  I,  54. 

Felton,  S.  M.,  I,  3,  141,  144. 
Fiat  motors,  2,  184-86. 
Finance  Bureau,  the,  2,  233. 
Finance  office  of  the  A.E.F.,  origin 

of,  2,  47,  48;  duties  of,  233,  234. 
Financial  organization,  central,  for 

the  A.E.F.,  I,   153,  167,  171;  2, 

169,  174,  175,  177- 
Financial  Requisition  Officer,  2,  28, 

233- 

Fleville,  I,  193. 

Foch,  General,  Pershing  confers 
with,  1, 93;  and  the  Board  of  Sup- 
ply. 133-35.  154.  156;  desires  to 
put  Payot  in  supreme  command 
of  the  rear,  147;  violent  interview 


with  Pershing  on  integrity  of 
American  army,  163;  his  plan  of 
campaign,  174;  and  the  advance, 

178,  179;  and  the  American  rear, 
189;  pays  high  tribute  to  the 
American  army  and  its  command, 
195;  picture  of,  inscribed  to 
Dawes,  217;  citation  of  Dawes  in 
orders  by,  265. 

Food  crisis,  Europ>ean,  I,  205,  206. 

Forage  ration,  I,  143,  145;  2,  155, 
158,  164. 

Ford,  General  Reginald,  representa- 
tive of  British  General  Staff 
on  the  Board  of  Supply,  I, 
169;  an  ideal  member,  177,  179; 
suggests  the  changing  of  the  name 
of  the  Board,  178;  and  the  ques- 
tion of  the  records  of  Supply 
Services,  222 ;  Distinguished  Serv- 
ice Medal  conferred  upon,  244; 
Dawes's  friendship  for,  255;  at- 
tends ceremony  of  giving  honor 
to  Dawes,  268;  commended  in 
Dawes's  Reports,  335;  2, 187,  192. 

Forecasts,  supply,  preparation  of, 
2,  19. 

Foreign  Agencies,  Bureau  of,  2,  17. 

Foreman,  Colonel  Milton  J.,  I,  192. 

Fourth  of  July,  celebration  in  Paris, 
I,  261. 

France,  and  the  military  situation, 
Nov.  1917,  I,  58,  59. 

Freight  in  French  cars,  I,  17. 

French,  believe  in  fixed  procedure 
at  dinner,  I,  46;  criticism  of 
Pershing  and  American  rear  by, 
181,  182,  189-91,  199;  2,  205-07; 
criticize  British,  I,  102;  Dawes's 
and  Pershing's  feeling  of  obliga- 
tion to,  155,  216,  217;  coopera- 
tion of,  to  be  commended,  173, 

179,  187;  2,  36-41,  147;  Dawes 
appointed  to  the  grade  of  Com- 
mander of  the  L^ion  of  Honor 
by,  I,  219,  220. 

French  coal  mines,  I,  39. 

French  Government,  proposal  of. 


INDEX 


275 


regarding  transports,  I,  39,  40; 
suggestion  of,  to  take  over  ma- 
terial property  of  American  army, 
224. 
Fuel  situation.  See  Coal,  Wood  sup- 
ply. 

Ganne,  Maurice,  I,  72,  105,  106,  126, 
192,  265;  2,  32,  38;  commended  in 
Dawes's  Report,  40. 

General  Purchasing  Agent,  Report 
of  activities  of,  2,  1-64;  classifi- 
cation of  functions  of,  14-30;  spe- 
cial activities  of,  30-34;  personnel 
of  office,  193. 

General  Purchasing  Board  of  the 
Army,  I,  21,  27,  84-90;  Report  on 
activities  of,  2,  1-64;  members  of, 
13,  14;  classification  of  functions 
of,  14-30. 

German  government,  I,  200. 

German  offensive  of  March,  19 18, 
I,  80. 

Germans,  and  the  military  situa- 
tion, Nov.  1917,  I,  58,  59. 

Germany,  asks  for  armistice,  I,  188, 
205;  relief  for  civilian  population 
of,  228. 

Gerow,  Colonel  L.  T.,  2,  14. 

Gibson,  Lieutenant  C.  B.,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  1,337. 

Gordon,  John  B.,  I,  4. 

Gordon  Highlanders,  I,  53. 

Gorell,  Major  Edgar  S.,  I,  21;  2,  14. 

Grafton,  Captain,  I,  23,  28;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  60. 

Grasty,  Charles  H.,  of  the  New  York 
Times,  I,  199. 

Great  Lake  boats,  utilization  of,  I, 

33,  35- 

Grenade-thrower,  German,  with  in- 
scription, I,  160. 

Grenfell,  Mr.,  I,  10. 

Griffith,  Colonel  Fred  D.,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  I, 
336. 

Grove,  Colonel  W.  R.,  2,  13. 

Gutenshon,  Major  A.  G.,  2,  14. 


Haig,  Sir  Douglas,  I,  139;  desires  to 
use  American  troops,  94,  95;  his 
attitude  toward  the  unity  of 
supply  ser\'ice,  99;  makes  reflec- 
tions on  the  American  army,  195, 
196;  decorated  by  Pershing,  204, 
211,  212;  in  Dawes's  Report,  2,42. 

Hainaut,  Major,  commended  in 
Dawes's  Report,  I,  335. 

Harbord,  General  J.  G.,  I,  61,  67, 
181,  182;  attitude  toward  unifica- 
tion of  support,  89,  90,  93;  and 
Dawes's  overcoat,  99;  promoted, 
136;  made  Commanding  General, 
Service  of  Supply,  141;  a  great 
support  to  Dawes,  147,  172;  tele- 
gram of,  to  Pershing  on  St.  Mihiel 
victory,  168;  recommended  for 
promotion,  204;  works  on  Supply 
Service  record,  223;  awarded  Dis- 
tinguished Service  Medal,  235; 
becomes  again  Pershing's  Chief  of 
Staff,  250;  eulog>'  of,  250;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  56. 

Harjes,  Major  H.  H.,  I,  47,  52,  61; 
requisitioned  by  Dawes,  36;  rec- 
ommended for  appointment  to 
represent  U.S.,  44;  and  Payot, 
144. 

Havre,  I,  11,  12. 

Hay,  acute  crisis  in  situation,  I,  153, 
154;  failure  of  French  to  provide, 
159;  to  be  bought  locally  in 
France,  166,  167;  2,  167,  172,  173, 
176,  179;  agreement  of  French  to 
provide,  134;  policy  in  matter  of, 
177;  the  situation,  Sept.  16,  1918, 
180;  English  and  French  systems 
of  transportation  of,  155,  157. 

Henry,  Colonel  M.  J.,  2,  13. 

Hill,  Colonel  Frederick  Trevor, 
I,  37;  commended  in  Dawes's 
Report,  2,  31,  147. 

Hodges,  Colonel,  I,  175,  176,  268; 
commended  in  Dawes's  Report, 

336,  337. 
Hollis,  Senator,  of  the  Liquidation 
Commission,    I,   238,   248,   269; 


276 


INDEX 


goes  to  Spain  to  attend  to  horse 
situation,  2,  212,  215. 

Hoover,  Herbert  C,  I,  210  n.;  de- 
sires assistance  of  Dawes  in  food 
department,  5,  143;  outlines  plan 
for  feeding  Europe,  223;  a  man  of 
action,  228;  approves  of  McAdoo 
for  command  of  Services  of  Sup- 
ply, 2,  161 ;  conferences  with,  on 
food  supply,  250,  251. 

Horse  ration,  2,  155,  158,  164. 

Horses,  from  France,   I,   123,   178, 

179,  190-94;  2,  145.  192-94,  196, 
204,  205,  213,  214;  from  England, 

1,  190-92,  210;  2,  202,  212,  221, 
222,  228,  232;  from  Spain,  I,  210; 

2,  183,  204,  212,  215,  225,  228; 
from  Italy,  228,  229. 

House,  Colonel,  commission  headed 
by,  I,  60;  at  conference  of  Prime 
Ministers,  197;  does  not  depend  on 
Pershing  as  to  peace  negotiations, 
198;  denies  criticizing  American 
organization,  199. 

Hull,  Colonel,  2,  244. 

Hyde,  James  H.,  I,  43. 

Ijams,  Colonel  G.,  commended  in 

Dawes's  Report,  2,  24. 
Inter-Allied  Automobile  Reserve,  I, 

143,  157,  302,  323-28. 
Inter-Allied  conferences,  to  consider 

unification  of  Allied  rear,  I,  106, 

115;  Dawes's  methods  in,  241. 
Inter-Allied   Metal   Committee,   2, 

90. 
Inter-Allied  Staff  school,  I,  167. 
Italian  labor,  2, 80-96,  107,  127,  133, 

146. 
Italian  reverse,  the,  I,  56,  57. 
Italy,     the     question     of     sending 

American  troops  to,  I,  103,  105; 

2,  85,  87, 92, 107, 1 13;  horses  from, 

228,  229. 
Ives,    Captain   R.,   commended   in 

Dawes's  Report,  2,  29. 

Jackson,    Major    Dugald    C,    of 


Technical  Board,  2,  26;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  27. 

Jackson,  Colonel  J.  P.,  of  Labor  Bu- 
reau, I,  72,  105,  164;  2,  25,  170; 
commended  in  Dawes's  Report, 
22;  recommended  for  promotion, 
112. 

Jackson,  Colonel  Thomas  H.,  I,  21; 
2,  14;  commended  in  Dawes's 
Report,  63. 

Jadwin,  General,  I,  133,  134;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Reports,  2, 
32,  161. 

James,  Lieutenant,  I,  23,  28. 

Jay,  Colonel  N.  D.,  I,  24,  129;  2, 
123;  commended  in  Dawes's  Re- 
port, 17,  19,  47,  59;  recommended 
for  promotion,  112. 

Jeanneney,  M.,  President  of  French 
Council  of  Ministers,  I,  105,  106; 
letter  of  Dawes  to,  on  unification 
of  supplies,  107-14. 

Jehay,  Comte,  I,  66. 

Joffre,  Marshal,  I,  36,  38;  on  sole 
command,  63. 

Johnson,  Homer,  of  the  Liquidation 
Commission,  I,  238,  248,  269; 
with  Mrs.  Johnson  gives  dinner 
to  Dawes,  268. 

Kahn,  Julius,  I,  247. 

Keeley,  James,  I,  199. 

Kennedy,  Captain  A.  T.,  of  Tech- 
nical Board,  2,  26. 

Kernan,  General,  relations  of  Dawes 
with,  I,  76-80,  129,  130;  an  able 
officer  and  fine  soldier  and  execu- 
tive, 125;  awarded  Distinguished 
Service  Medal,  235;  commended 
in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  57;  con- 
fidence between  Dawes  and,  143. 

Kilkenny,  Lieutenant  Francis  J., 
commended  in  Dawes's  Report, 
2,64. 

Kraft,  Lieutenant,  I,  15. 

Krauthoff,  Colonel  C.  R.,  2,  13,  64; 
commended  in  Dawes's  Report, 
32,  63. 


INDEX 


277 


Krueger,  Major  J.  W.,  commended 
in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  19,  20. 

La  Baule,  I,  14. 

Labor,  the  supplying  of,  I,  41,  42, 

64,  80,  81;  2,  69-109,  114,  127, 
131.  133.  179;  Dawes  assumes 
duty  of  securing,  I,  71,  72;  from 
various  countries,  163-65;  dis- 
cussion of  form  of  organization 
of,  113;  handling  and  supply  of, 
2,  136,  146,  150. 

Labor  Bureau,  the,  formation  of,  I, 
72, 2 1 7;  2, 22;  transferred  to  Tours, 
I,  163;  2,  170;  work  of,  I,  164;  2, 
22-26;  put  under  Army  Service 
Corps,  I,  217;  2,  22,  170,  234, 

Labor  troops,  I,  102. 

La  Grange  du  Roy,  I,  159. 

Langfitt,  General  W.  C,  I,  31,  122, 
124,  129;  commended  in  Dawes's 
Report,  2,  32. 

La  Panne,  I,  47,  49.  52- 

Lassiter,  General  William,  2,  16. 

League  of  Nations,  illustrated  by 
Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply, 
I,  249. 

Le  Due,  Commandant,  I,  49,  52. 

Leopold,  Prince,  of  Belgium,  I,  245, 
246. 

Le  Rond,  General,  I,  123, 

Lescannes,  Commandant,  I,  146. 

Liberty  Bonds,  I,  42. 

Lindeboom,  Commander,  I,  34,  36, 

.38. 

Liquidation  Commission,  the,  I, 
245,  247,  250,  253,  260;  Dawes 
at  head  of,  236,  243. 

Liquidation  of  material  property,  I, 
219,  222,  224,  248,  252. 

Lloyd  George,  1, 63;  and  Allied  Sup- 
ply Service,  100,  105,  120;  talk 
with,  on  Military  Board  of  Allied 
Supply,  248,  249. 

Locomotives,  Belgian,  I,  62,  69. 

Logan,  Colonel  James  A.,  Jr.,  I,  28, 

65,  loi,  123,  129;  commended  in 
Dawes's  Reports,  2,  62,  170. 


London,  parade  in,  I,  10,  11. 

Loucheur,  M.,  and  the  supply  serv- 
ice, I,  99,  loi,  104,  107,  114- 
18. 

Lydig,  Major  Philip  M., commended 
in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  64. 

Maglinse,  Colonel,  I,  52. 

Magoon,  Charles  E.,  I,  5. 

Mangin,  General,  I,  146,  165. 

March,  General,  I,  73. 

Margotte,  Captain,  I,  5. 

Material,  tons  of,  shipped  from 
United  States,  1, 226,  238;  amount 
of,  secured  on  the  other  side,  226, 
227,  238;  procured  in  Europe, 
money  expended  for,  227,  228; 
amount  on  hand  after  the  War, 
248;  disposal  of,  248,  252,  260, 
261,  266,  268;  allocation  of, 
among  different  services,  2,  in. 
See  Liquidation,  Property,  Sup- 
plies. 

Matter,  Lieutenant  J.  H.,  on  pur- 
chasing board,  I,  21. 

Maud,  Colonel  Harry,  2,  42. 

Mayo,  Admiral,  I,  34. 

McAdam,  Colonel  J.  P.,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  25. 

McAdoo,  Secretary,  2,  161. 

McAndrew,  General,  I,  129,  174, 
204,  205,  230,  250. 

McCormick,  Bertie,  I,  93. 

McCormick,  Chauncey,  1, 19,  32-34, 
104,  106. 

McCormick,  Harold  F.,  I,  29  n.;  2, 
64. 

McCormick,  Vance,  I,  60,  81 ;  2,  44. 

McCoy,  General  Frank,  I,  174. 

McCutcheon,  John,  I,  223,  267. 

McFadden,  George,  I,  81,  165,  190, 
191,  203,  224,  241;  receives  Dis- 
tinguished Service  Medal,  243; 
commended  in  Dawes's  Reports, 
2,  44,  45,  223,  249,  250;  and  Inter- 
Allied  Metal  Committee,  90;  and 
the  horse  situation  in  Spain,  204, 
215,  223. 


278 


INDEX 


McPherson,  Captain  D.  F.,  2,  64. 

McRoberts,  Samuel,  I,  156,  163. 

Meaux,  I,  129,  130. 

Mechem,  Captain  J.  C,  2,  64. 

Merrone,  General,  I,  115,  205;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  335. 

Metal  Control  Bureau,  2,  21. 

Metals,  2,  90. 

Metin,  M.,  I,  57. 

Metz,  I,  177. 

Military  Board  of  Allied  Supply, 
statement  of  plan,  I,  118,  119;  2, 
1 24 ;  plan  confirmed  by  French  War 
Council,  I,  122,  123;  on  French 
appointment  to,  126;  on  function- 
ing of,  128;  announcement  to  the 
army  concerning  plan  of,  129; 
first  meeting  of,  131;  2,  139,  140; 
English  cooperating  in,  I,  132, 
156,  169,  179;  2,  140-43;  Foch 
and,  I,  133-35;  important  agency 
of  success  in  emergency,  140; 
meetings  of,  145,  166,  167,  177; 
letter  of  Dawes  to  Pershing  on, 
148-52;  and  the  General  Staff, 
148  n.;  as  regards  the  name, 
148  n.,  178;  increased  power  and 
usefulness  of,  154;  becoming  co- 
ordinator of  Allied  rear,  177;  great 
service  of,  180;  historical  note  of 
Dawes  on,  200-02;  question  of 
relief  supplies  at  meeting  of,  225; 
Dawes's  Report  as  American  mem- 
ber of,  238;  practically  a  League  of 
Nations,  249;  last  but  one  meet- 
ing of,  264;  account  of  establish- 
ment of,  in  Dawes's  Report,  275- 
301 ;  summary'  of  activities  and  ac- 
complishments of,  301-13;  letters 
concerning  activities  of,  306-13; 
beneficial  activities  of,  in  coordi- 
nating army  services,  313-19; 
and  pooling  of  ammunition,  320- 
23;  and  transportation  in  the 
rear,  323-31 ;  members  of,  333-37; 
general  considerations  concerning 
the  principle  of,  337-44;  organi- 
zation of,  2, 127-31 ;  references  to, 


in  Daily  Reports,  147-71,  182, 
194,  199,  235,  236,  245,  246. 

Military  Board  Motor  Transport 
School,  I,  193. 

Military  decorations,  unwisdom  of, 
I,  263,  264. 

Military  life,  I,  9,  10. 

Military  situation  in  Nov.  1917,  I, 
58-60. 

Milner,  Lord,  I,  121,  133. 

Mines,  under  bombardment,  I,  81. 

Mobile  automobile  reserve.  See 
Automobile. 

Monte  Carlo,  I,  236. 

Montfaucon,  I,  183-86,  215,  251. 

Montoir  project,  the,  I,  38  n.,  142. 

Moore,  Colonel  H.  B.,  I,  104,  106, 
115;  helps  Dawes  in  coal  crisis, 
31-34;  put  in  charge  of  the  han- 
dling of  transports,  36,42,43;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  31, 

32. 

Morel,  Paul,  I,  269. 

Morrill,  Lieutenant,  I,  271. 

Morrow,  Dwight,  of  the  Shipping 
Board,  I,  120,  121;  great  value  of 
his  services,  120  n.;  his  story  of 
the  alligator  and  the  turtle,  168; 
commended  in  Dawes's  Reports, 
297:2,  159. 

Moseley,  Colonel,  of  the  General 
Staff,  I,  116,  129,  223;  thinks 
Americans  well  prepared  for  at- 
tack, 158;  recommends  that 
Dawes  be  put  in  charge  of  4th 
Bureau  of  General  Staff,  162; 
value  of  his  services,  162,  163,  186, 
19I1  193;  difficulty  of  his  task, 
180;  at  dinner  in  honor  of  Payot, 
265;  commended  in  Dawes's 
Report,  305,  306. 

Motor  transport  system,  I,  157, 
169,  171,  172,  175;  2,  154,  180. 
See  Automobile. 

Motors.   See  Fiat. 

Mott,  Colonel,  I,  103,  167,  173,  174. 

Mount  Ephraim,  home  of  the  Eng- 
lish Dawes  family,  I,  255-60. 


INDEX 


279 


Mount  Kemmel,  I,  102. 
MuUonej',    Lieutenant    Dalton   H., 

commended  in   Dawes's  Report, 

2,  64. 
Munition   depots,   coordination  of, 

I,  122,  123. 
Munroe,  General,  I,  146. 

Nash,  General,  I,  100. 
Negroes,  in  France,  I,  19. 
Northcliffe,  Lord,  I,  199;  2,  125. 
Noyon,  I,  166. 
Nut,  Harry,  I,  156. 

Offensive  of  March,  191 8,  losses,  I, 

102. 
Oppenheim,  M.,  I,  265. 
Organizations,  disposition  of,  after 

the  armistice,  2,  234. 
Osborne,  Colonel  Perry,  2,  30. 
Oxney  Camp,  I,  8. 

Painleve,  M.,  I,  24,  63. 

Paris,  under  bombardment,  I,  82, 
83,  116,  132,  133. 

Parker,  Mr.,  of  the  Liquidation 
Commission,  I,  248,  269. 

Patrick,  General  M.  M.,  I,  63,  77, 
115;  commended  in  Dawes's  Re- 
port, 2,  32. 

Payot,  General,  I,  106,  126;  one  of 
the  ablest  men  in  the  French 
army,  130;  in  charge  of  French 
rear,  130,  131;  and  Foch,  133, 
134;  an  invaluable  asset  to  the 
Board  of  Supply,  143;  his  rela- 
tions to  Dawes,  144,  145;  his 
trustworthiness,  145,  160;  and 
the  Board  of  Supply,  147;  objects 
to  Dawes  leaving  the  Board,  152; 
cooperation  of,  154,  155;  and  the 
hay  crisis,  159,  160;  feels  in- 
justice of  non-promotion,  176; 
goes  from  Petain  to  Foch,  180; 
Dawes's  regard  for,  197,  217; 
made  General,  228;  dinner  to, 
given  by  Dawes,  265;  gives  fare- 
well lunch  to  Dawes,  267 ;  parting 


call  on  Dawes,  270;  commended 
in  Dawes's  Reports,  333-35".  2, 
166. 

Peace  Conference,  the,  I,  241. 

Peace  Parade,  I,  262,  267. 

Peace  Treaty,  the,  I,  247,  249. 

Pershing,  General  John  J.,  assists 
Dawes,  I,  4,  5;  as  hero  of  the  war, 
5;  man  for  emergency,  20;  puts 
Dawes  in  charge  of  purchasing 
departments,  21;  his  domestic 
grief,  22,  23;  his  views  of  the  sit- 
uation, 25,  26;  supports  Dawes, 
27;  made  General,  44;  pleased 
with  Dawes's  activities,  45; 
master  of  his  place,  45,  55;  gives 
dinner  to  Congressmen,  56;  his 
physical  fitness,  65;  a  man  of 
work,  66;  determines  to  keep 
American  troops  together  as  a 
unit  and  in  divisions,  67,  68,  70, 
71;  his  firmness,  71;  the  spirit  of, 
74;  his  offer  of  the  American  army 
to  the  French,  83,  84;  subordi- 
nates personal  authority,  85,  91, 
127;  a  great  leader,  91,  98;  ad- 
dresses men  about  to  enter  battle, 
92;  confers  with  Foch,  93;  confi- 
dent of  Foch,  94;  to  decide  the 
question  of  the  use  of  American 
troops  by  English  and  French,  94, 
95;  and  Allied  unification,  96;  tele- 
gram of,  on  Allied  unification,  96; 
his  regard  for  small  things,  98, 
99;  his  compromise  plan  on  matter 
of  unification  of  supplies,  107-14; 
his  plan  agreed  upon,  1 15-18; 
his  plan  of  campaign,  127-29;  his 
plan  of  striking  with  maximum 
force  at  time  of  enemy's  greatest 
weakness,  127,  174;  ability  in 
emergency,  129;  man  of  action, 
133;  inspiration  of  his  personality, 
135,  136;  on  tour  of  the  ports,  141 , 
142;  as  public  speaker,  142;  his 
confidence  in  Dawes,  147,  153; 
thanks  Military  Inter-Allied  Com- 
mittee, 156;  letter  to  Lord  Milner 


28o 


INDEX 


on  English  representation  on  the 
Board  of  Supply,  l6l  n.;  violent 
interview  with  Foch  on  integrity 
of  American  army,  163;  telegram 
of  Harbord  to,  on  St.  Mihiel  vic- 
tory, 168;  his  plan  of  attack,  184, 
187,  188;  French  criticism  of,  189; 
and  the  armistice  terms,  195-99; 
a  great  master  of  English,  203; 
at  the  theatre,  206,  211;  deco- 
rates Marshal  Haig,  211,  212;  and 
General  Petain,  217;  one  of  first 
figures  in  American  history,  218; 
enters  Luxembourg  with  his  army, 
219;  and  talk  of  the  Presidency, 
223;  letter  of  appreciation  to 
Dawes,  232  n.;  inspects  troops, 
240;  Davidson's  bust  of,  246; 
speech  at  Beaumont,  251;  visits 
the  Dawes  home  in  England, 
254-57;  at  Fourth  of  July  cele- 
bration in  Paris,  261 ;  in  Dawes's 
Report,  2,  55,  56. 

Pershing,  Warren,  I,  245. 

Pershing  Stadium,  dedication  of,  I, 

254- 

"  Pershing's  Own."   5ee  Band. 

Petain,  General,  very  alert,  I,  65; 
statement  on  pooling  of  resources, 
156;  emphasizes  importance  of 
mobile  automobile  reserve,  157, 
159;  works  together  with  Payot, 
159;  esteem  of  Pershing  for,  204, 
217. 

Pooling.  See  Coordination,  Unifi- 
cation. 

Port  facilities,  2,  203,  208-11. 

Portugal,  recruiting  of  laborers 
from,  I,  172;  2,  99,  146,  179. 

Power,  exercise  of,  with  patience, 
I,  55;  should  be  camouflaged, 
119. 

Printing  Office,  Central,  2,  21. 

Prisoners,  I,  13;  2,  154,  157. 

Promotions,  consideration  of,  2, 1 12. 

Property,  instinct  of,  I,  173;  liquida- 
tion of,  219,  222,  224,  248,  252; 
proposal  of  French  Government 


to  take  over,  224.  See  Material, 
Supplies. 

Purchase  Programme  and  Classifi- 
cation, Bureau  of,  2,  19,  20. 

Purchases,  coordination  of,  2,  14;  by 
Category  Department,  17;  expe- 
diting, 167;  system  and  emergency 
in  matter  of,  168.  See  Coordina- 
tion, Unification. 

Ragueneau,  General,  chairman  ot 
the  French  mission,  I,  37,  65;  one 
of  the  ablest  men  in  the  French 
army,  130;  lunch  given  by,  175; 
in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  38. 

Railroad  ties,  I,  64;  2,  160,  195, 

Railway  and  dock  facilities,  I,  17. 

Railways,  light,  2,  164. 

Rasputin,  I,  244. 

Rear,  problems  of  the,  I,  179;  the 
American,  criticism  of,  181,  182, 
189-91,  199;  2,  205-07,  224,  225. 
See  Coordination,  Military  Board, 
Unification. 

Reciprocal  Supply,  Bureau  of,  2,  30. 

Red  Cross,  the,  cooperation  of,  with 
army,  I,  84;  officials  of,  become 
officers,  2,  181. 

Relief  supplies,  I,  225,  228. 

Report  of  Activities  of  General 
Purchasing  Agent  and  General 
Purchasing  Board,  2,  1-64. 

Report  of  the  American  Member  of 
the  Military  Board  ot  Allied  Sup- 
ply, I,  275-344. 

Report  on  Formation  and  Theory 
of  the  Supply  Organization  of  the 
Allied  Armies  in  France,  I,  332. 

Reports,  daily,  of  General  Purchas- 
ing Agent,  2,  67-252. 

Rheims,  I,  252. 

Riviera,  the,  I,  236. 

Rockenbach,  Colonel,  I,  14,  17,  193. 

Rogers,  General  H.  L.,  I,  32,  37,  65, 
205;  commended  in  Dawes's  Re- 
port, 2,  32. 

Romagne,  I,  251. 

Roop,  Colonel  J.  C,  commended  in 


INDEX 


281 


Dawes's  Reports,  1, 337;  2, 18,  19, 
60. 

Round  robin,  a,  I,  67. 

Rozoy  School,  the,  I,  301,  329-31; 
2,  176. 

Ruquoy,  General,  I,  52,  62,  69. 

Russell,  General  Edward,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  32. 

Russia,  views  of  Grand  Duke  Alex- 
ander on,  I,  244. 

Russians  in  France,  revolt  of,  I,  45. 

Ryan,  Captain,  I,  15,  23,  28. 

Sackvi lie- West,  General,  I,  145. 
St.  Mihiel  victory,  I,  168. 
St.  Nazaire,  camp  at,  I,  13,  38,  142. 
St.  Omer,  I,  47. 
St.  Paul  farm,  I,  146. 
Salignac-Fenelon,  Madame,  I,  174. 
Sanborn,  Colonel,  I,  245;  2,  64. 
Sayles,  Commander,  I,  34. 
Schafer,  Captain  George  C,  2,  14. 
Scheidt,  Commandant,  I,  49. 
Schwab,  Charles  M.,  I,  234. 
Scottish  troops,  I,  191,  212,  213. 
Segers,  Paul,  I,  62. 
Self-government,  I,  243. 
Selfishness  and  ambition,  opposition 
to  unification  due  to,  I,  125-27, 

339- 

Services  of  Supply,  proposed  records 
of,  I,  221,  222;  2,  245;  four  days' 
trip  over,  I,  224;  splendid  results 
achieved  by,  229. 

Sewell,  Colonel,  as  a  friend  and 
a  man,  I,  3;  receives  commission 
as  Colonel,  4;  has  report  made  on 
freight  handling,  15;  makes  speech 
at  La  Baule,  17;  and  Pershing,  23; 
and  the  pier  project  at  St.  Na- 
zaire, 38;  dines  with  Pershing,  56; 
sent  to  Belgian  front,  69;  visits 
Dawes  at  Paris,  130;  commander 
of  the  base  at  St.  Nazaire,  142; 
with  Dawes  at  Brussels,  252,  253. 

Sharp,  William  G.,  American  Am- 
bassador to  France,  I,  42,  44,  81; 
2,43. 


Sherman,  Mr.,  of  the  Shipping 
Board,  I,  129. 

Shipp,  F.  B.,  on  purchasing  board, 
1,21. 

Shipping  Board,  the,  I,  102. 

Shipping  problem,  the,  I,  55,  58,  64. 
See  Transportation, 

Sims,  Admiral,  I,  31,  33,  35. 

Sims,  Captain  J.  C,  2,  64. 

Smith,  Mr.,  and  the  Labor  Bureau, 
I,  164. 

Smith,  Captain  Jeremiah,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  24. 

Smither,  Colonel  H.  C,  I,  133,  158, 
164;  commended  in  Dawes's  Re- 
port, 337;  2,  25. 

Soissons,  I,  146,  165,  166. 

Souilly,  I,  182. 

Spain,  supplies  from,  I,  57,  60;  rev- 
olution in,  feared,  59;  animals 
from,  2,  183,  204,  212,  215,  223, 
225,  228, 

Spanish  commercial  treaty,  I,  73. 

Spanish  labor,  I,  38,  72;  2,  69,  74- 
79.  81,  83,  90,  104,  146. 

Spaulding,  Colonel  A.  P.,  2,  14. 

Sprague,  Captain  H.  M.,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  24. 

Springett,  Rev.  Dr.,  I,  256. 

Stacey,  Wayne,  I,  73. 

Stanley,  Colonel,  I,  31. 

Stanton,  Colonel  Charles  E.,  on 
purchasing  board,  I,  21,  43;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  13, 
61,  62. 

State  Department,  the,  agents  of, 
I,  81. 

Statistical  Bureau,  2,  18. 

Stettinius,  Edward  R.,  I,  140,  141, 
165,  206;  very  helpful,  170,  171; 
his  services  in  the  War,  170  n., 
224;  in  Dawes's  Reports,  2,  47, 
169;  member  of  Advisory  Liqui- 
dating Board,  244. 

Stuyvekenskerke,  I,  51. 

Submarine  attacks,  I,  6-8. 

Summerall,  General,  I,  185. 

Supplies,  stopping  of  construction 


282 


INDEX 


and  purchase  of,  on  news  of  ar- 
mistice, I,  202;  records  of  Services 
of,  221,  222;  supplemental  organi- 
zation to  increase  procurement  of, 
in  Europe,  2,  15,  16;  liquidation 
of,  235,  236,  241-44,  249.  See 
Property. 
Supply  forecasts,  preparation  of,  2, 

19-  ,      , 

Supply  Organization  of  the  Allied 

Armies    in    France,    Report    on 

Formation  and  Theory  of,  I,  332. 
Supply  system  of  Allies,  composite 

picture    of,    I,    264.     See   Allied 

Service,  Services. 
Supreme  War  Council,  the,  I,  97, 

114. 
Switzerland,  I,  43,  58,  205. 

Tanks,  I,  193,  214. 

Tardieu,  M.,  valuable  help  of,  I,  126, 
178;  2,  38-40;  his  views  on  sale  of 
supplies  to  France,  I,  248;  activ- 
ities in  connection  with  coopera- 
tion of  Bureau  of  Franco-Ameri- 
can affairs  and  A.E.F.  concerning 
supplies,  2,  148-52. 

Taylor,  Major  Carl,  I,  21;  2,  28. 

Taylor,  Captain  James  B.,  I,  21; 
2,  14. 

Taylor,  General,  I,  37. 

Technical  Board,  the,  I,  217;  2,  26. 

Thanksgiving,  I,  61. 

Thwaites,  General,  I,  248. 

Tolman,  Captain  Hugh,  2,  14. 

Tonnage,  estimate  of  trans- Atlantic, 

2,  34-36. 

Townsend,  Colonel  C.  McD.,  of 
General  Purchasing  Board,  2,  14; 
commended  in  Dawes's  Reports, 
32,  63. 

Transportation,  need  of,  I,  29-40; 
in  the  rear,  importance  of  proper, 
323;  the  Inter-Allied  Automobile 
Reserve,  323-31;  French,  in  Zone 
of  Advance,  2,  153,  154;  considera- 
tion of  the  question  of,  186,  187. 
See  Shipping  problem. 


Travers-Clarke,  General,  meeting 
with  Dawes,  I,  104;  Dawes  guest 
of,  139;  and  organization  of  the 
Military  Board,  154-61,  166; 
cooperation  of,  190;  2,  42;  de- 
sires to  be  member  of  the  Board, 
153;  views  on  computing  costs, 
201. 

Unification  of  Allied  support,  letter 
of  Dawes  to  Pershing  on  the  need 
of,  I,  84-90;  efforts  to  secure,  96, 
99-119;  England  joins  in,  120, 
121;  the  working  of,  122-28;  self- 
ish opposition  to,  122-28;  note 
of  General  Petain  and  General 
Pershing  on,  156;  military  unifi- 
cation and,  173;  historical  note  of 
Dawes  on,  200-02;  in  Daily  Re- 
ports, 2,  98-107,  111-31,  148,  190. 
See  Coordination,  Military  Board. 

United  States.   See  America. 

United  States  Liquidation  Com- 
mission, the,  I,  170  n.  See  Liqui- 
dation Commission. 

Urbain,  Captain  L.  F.,  2,  14. 

Vanity,  I,  262-64. 

Varaigne,  M.,  I,  105,  253,  265;  2, 

40. 
Varennes,  I,  182,  183. 
Verdun,  I,  177. 
Versailles,  conference  at,  on  terms 

of  armistice,  I,  194-97. 
Victory  Parade,  the,  I,  262,  267. 
Viviani,  I,  36. 

Wallace,  Sergeant  Robert  C,  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Report,  2,  24. 

War  Department,  Ordnance  De- 
partment of,  criticized,  I,  228. 

War  Trade  Board,  cooperation  of, 

2,  42-45- 
Ward,  Captain  R.  S.,  2,  14. 
Warehouse  coordination,  I,  130. 
Wedding  party,  a  French,  I,  33. 
Weir,  Sir  Andrew,  I,  106. 
Weston,  Major,  I,  18. 


INDEX 


■2^2> 


Weygand,  notifies  Dawes  of  citation 
in  orders  of  F"och,  I,  265. 

Wheeler,  General,  I,  122,  124;  com- 
mended in  Dawes's  Rc{X)rt,  2,  32. 

Whitcomb,  Colonel  C.  C,  2,  13. 

Wilkins,  General  H.  E.,  I,  21,  37,  42; 
commended  in  Dawes's  Report, 
2,  13,  32,  62. 

Wilson,  President,  address  to  Con- 
gress, I,68;replytoGermany,  188; 
an  English  judgment  of,  207;  ar- 
rival in  France,  224;  goes  to  Eng- 
land, 230;  declines  to  see  Grand 
Duke  Alexander  of  Russia,  245. 


Winged  Victory  of  Samothrace,  the, 

I,  270. 
Winn,  General,  I,  132. 
Wireless  telegraph,  2,  162,  163. 
Wood,  supply,  2,  72-81,  93-96,  100, 

109,  147,  152,  156,  160. 
Wood  of  the  Marines,  I,  147. 
Wood  Section,  2,  21. 
Woodruff,  Colonel  J.  A.,  2,  14. 
Woodruff,  General,  English  liaison 

officer,  I,  167. 
Woods,  Mr.,  I,  64. 

Zavala,  Captain  Aug.  de,  2,  64. 


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